Yankees should make these 3 immediate changes to get ‘right and rolling’

NEW YORK — The record shows the New York Yankees split their doubleheader with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.

In reality, they merely survived it.

In Game 1, the Yankees lost 8-2 as their struggling lineup was dominated by starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who threw a complete game. In Game 2, a Jazz Chisholm Jr. go-ahead solo shot in the eighth inning and a five-inning save from closer David Bednar were the separators in a 2-1 win.

A loss Friday meant the Yankees dropped the three-game set to the Dodgers — just about everyone’s favorite to emerge from the National League.

It’s only mid-July, but the question looms large: Can the Yankees keep up with the Los Angeles juggernaut?

“I feel like we match up against any team in the league,” Chisholm said. “I feel like we beat ourselves a lot, and I feel like that stuff we’re going to clean up as it goes.”

Manager Aaron Boone wouldn’t look that far ahead.

“I don’t think about that,” he said. “We’re going through our own stuff right now as a team. We’ve got to get ourselves right and rolling.”

Boone is right. The Yankees have plenty to clean up, even though they closed their gap with the first-place Tampa Bay Rays to 1 1/2 games in the American League East.

Here are three changes they should make:

Cut ties with Camilo Doval

When Camilo Doval jogged out from the bullpen Sunday afternoon, the Yankees were down 7-1 in the eighth inning. It was the kind of garbage time that should have come with a bright orange vest and green jumpsuit.

Doval didn’t do much with the opportunity. Over 1 2/3 innings, he walked three batters, hit another and allowed one of two inherited runners to score. In a mind-blowing feat, he threw just 10 strikes in 33 pitches.

Doval has clearly fallen to the bottom rung of the Yankees’ bullpen ladder — and understandably so. He’s been a disaster with a 4.86 ERA over 41 appearances.

At this point, it might be a disservice to Doval to keep him around. The Yankees should work to trade him as soon as possible and even entertain designating him for assignment. He’s out of minor-league options.

In 2023, Doval was an All-Star, and he tied for the National League lead in saves. The Yankees were hoping they could coach him back up to those lofty heights when they traded for him at last year’s deadline.

And there are still things to like about Doval, whose fastball averages 98.6 mph and whose ground-ball rate is at 56.9 percent.

But the Yankees need an upgrade. They know that. They’ll more than likely replace Doval at some point. They should do it sooner rather than later.

Call up Spencer Jones, demote Jasson Domínguez

Jasson Domínguez hasn’t exactly locked down his spot on the roster since getting called back up. Why not give Spencer Jones a run in right field until Aaron Judge (fractured rib) returns?

Consider: The Yankees were ahead 1-0 when they loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth inning of Game 2 on Sunday. They didn’t score, and Domínguez was part of the problem, striking out swinging. He finished the day 1-for-8 with three strikeouts.

Domínguez went into Sunday with just a 94 wRC+ since he came off the injured list June 13. On the season, he’s posted an 82 wRC+. And defensively, since coming back, he’s been only a designated hitter or played right field, where he’s been an adventure (minus-2 Outs Above Average).

Jones, meanwhile, performed better offensively than he was given credit for in his second major-league call-up, posting an .808 OPS and a 126 wRC+ in 53 plate appearances.

Jones is also the superior defender in right field — and he can play all three outfield positions.

Of course, Domínguez’s ability to switch hit and to push the action on the basepaths is a big part of why he’s still in the majors — and he deserves credit for those attractive qualities. The Yankees could try giving Jones more plate appearances versus lefties, or they could platoon him with Max Schuemann. Plus, Jones is plenty fast for someone 6 feet 7.

Platoon Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has just a 74 wRC+ versus lefties this year, the third worst among Yankees regulars (Ryan McMahon, 57 wRC+; Austin Wells, 8 wRC+) and the worst among Yankees regulars who don’t have a platoon partner.

It might be time to give Chisholm’s plate appearances versus lefties to someone else. The Yankees have options.

They seem to like Schuemann, who has a 158 wRC+ in 32 plate appearances versus southpaws and whose barrel (13.5 percent), chase (19 percent) and walk (16.2 percent) rates are all indicators of an improved approach.

They could also platoon Chisholm with José Caballero, who’s a good defender at second base and has a career 109 wRC+ versus lefties (though that number this year is just 82 wRC+).

The Yankees don’t appear inclined to push the issue of Anthony Volpe playing any position other than shortstop. But they have at least talked about him possibly playing some second base, and he’s worked out there before a handful of games lately. It’s likely too soon to call up top prospect George Lombard Jr.

Would platooning Chisholm end up being a problem? The 28-year-old is in a contract year, and it would be a rough look for him going into free agency — and he knows that. Plus, Chisholm has pride (as he should), and it was just last season that he was plenty productive versus lefties (106 wRC+).

For Chisholm, the talent is there to hit lefties, but the Yankees would be fair to ask whether he’s run out of time to prove it.