HOUSTON – The New York Yankees are off to a strong start with two come-from-behind victories against the Houston Astros. While some may view their perfect record as a positive sign, the team’s true success will rely heavily on their starting pitching, which has already faced some setbacks early in the season. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole has been placed on the 60-day injured list with forearm inflammation, aiming to return by June 1.
The remaining starting pitchers for the Yankees are not without their own challenges. Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodón, both lefties, have had to overcome injuries and poor performance from the previous season. Cortes struggled with his command in 2023, resulting in a high ERA of 4.97 over 12 starts. Rodón’s first year with the team was a disappointment, as his fastball velocity was inconsistent and he struggled with his slider, leading to a 6.85 ERA.
Another addition to the rotation is Marcus Stroman, who joined the Yankees in the offseason. While he was named an All-Star for his strong first half, he struggled in the latter part of the year, giving up 26 runs in 18 innings. Clarke Schmidt, the fourth starter, had a durable season in terms of innings pitched but allowed too many baserunners and home runs. Luis Gil, who won the fifth starter job in spring training, showed promise in 2022 but missed most of the 2023 season due to injury.
The Yankees recently acquired JT Brubaker via trade, but he is still in the process of recovering from Tommy John Surgery and won’t join the rotation until midseason. With Cole’s return still a few months away, the Yankees will need to rely on Cortes, Rodón, and Stroman to determine their fate for the season. While it’s still early to draw conclusions, the performances of Cortes and Rodón in their first starts were mixed, and Stroman is set to take the mound soon.
For the Yankees, their ability to stay competitive and make it back to the postseason will heavily depend on their starting pitching. Come-from-behind victories may be thrilling, but the team is aware that falling behind early is not an ideal situation. Only time will tell if their current rotation can keep them in games and ultimately lead them to success.