ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Can the free-swinging New York Yankees win the World Series? If the past 25 winners tell us anything, the answer is no.Of the last 25 World Series winners, none has finished in the bottom five in strikeout rate and won it all. The Yankees have the fourth-worst strikeout rate in the majors. Only the Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles have struck out more than them this season, and each of those teams is currently out of the postseason picture.The World Series winner with the worst strikeout rate over the last 25 years was the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who had the sixth-worst rate that year in the regular season and, well, I don’t need to tell you how they reached the finish line. They are also the last club to finish in the bottom 10 in strikeout rate and win it all.For reference, the 2009 Yankees, the franchise’s last title-winning team, had the second-best strikeout rate, and the 2000 Yankees had the ninth-best.But let’s get back to the 2026 Yankees, who set a bleak franchise record in their first two games this week against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees struck out 34 times over the past two days, their most ever in a two-game span. The previous high was 30. The Yankees also became the first team in American League history to strike out at least 17 times in consecutive nine-inning games.“I knew we had 17 (on Monday),” a baffled Cody Bellinger began, “but I feel like we didn’t have that many (on Tuesday), but obviously I’m wrong.”Can Gerrit Cole become an ace again?Derek VanRiper and Eno SarrisStriking out at least 34 times over two games has happened just 32 times in MLB history. Seven teams have done it since 2020, including the Athletics twice this season. Still, it is hard to fathom a team striking out that many times over 18 innings. And yet, these Yankees found a way.They were completely shut down on consecutive days by Rays starters Griffin Jax and Ian Seymour, who both racked up double-digit strikeouts. Tampa Bay starters hadn’t pulled that off since 2021. Although Jax and Seymour have established themselves among the top strikeout pitchers this season since transitioning from bullpen roles last year, the Yankees’ performance made them look like Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson in their primes.“You’re gonna have nights where you’re up against a dominant pitcher, especially in today’s game where you’re going to have those double digits here and there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after another night of watching whiffs.Perhaps none of the 17 strikeouts in Tuesday’s 6-4 Yankees loss was more puzzling than José Caballero’s in the second inning. In a 3-2 count, Caballero went down looking, but he wouldn’t have been able to swing even if he wanted. By the time Seymour had released the pitch, Caballero had dropped the bat off his shoulder and simply watched the ball go into catcher Hunter Feduccia’s glove.