Mark Teixeira

New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira reacts after striking out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics Tuesday, April 19, 2016, at Yankee Stadium in New York.

(Bill Kostroun/AP Photo)

New York -- Every lineup has a weakness or two, but the Yankees' issues vs. opposing left-handed pitching has become an epidemic.

As the team heads off on a nine-game road trip to Texas, Boston and Baltimore, expect opposing managers to throw as many southpaws as possible. In fact, that's exactly what the Texas Rangers are planning to do on Monday night. With ace lefty Cole Hamels sidelined with groin soreness, the team is calling up lefty Cesar Ramos over more experienced and highly-touted right-handers in the system.



It's pretty easy to understand why. Heading into play on April 25, the Yankees rank 28th in baseball--and dead last in the American League--with a .602 OPS vs. left-handed pitching. With a .225/.311/.291 slash line and only 2 home runs in 213 at-bats, virtually anyone on the mound with a glove on their right hand is dominating this lineup.



During a 3-6 home stand-culminating in an 8-1 loss at the hands of Rays lefty Drew Smyly--here's how southpaw starters fared against the Yankees:



-April 24, Smyly: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 6 SO

-April 23, Blake Snell (MLB debut): 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 SO

-April 22, Matt Moore: 6.2 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 5 SO

-April 21, Rich Hill: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 10 SO

-April 20, Eric Surkamp: 5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 3 SO





In total, the Yankees managed only to score nine total earned runs in five games against those starters. Across 30.1 innings, Yankees hitters struck out 30 times.

So, what happened to a group that hit lefties to the tune of a .749 OPS with 53 home runs just a year ago?

Swisher the answer?



It could just be a slow start. With a lineup featuring switch hitters (Mark Teixiera, Carlos Beltran, Chase Headley), a lifetime lefty masher (Alex Rodriguez), projected lefty masher (Aaron Hicks) and right-handed threat vs. any lefty (Starlin Castro), this should turn around. But if those players don't start hitting, this could be a season-long issue as the Yankees try to traverse through the American League postseason race.



Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.