The New York Yankees have pitched like the best team in baseball through one turn of their starting rotation. But they still have reinforcements waiting to bolster their starting staff.
So Yankees manager Aaron Boone opened up about when they would expect to have Luis Gil back in the major leagues ahead of their return to New York for their home opener Friday.
Yankees starters have allowed just two earned runs in 33 2/3 innings (0.53 ERA) through six games after Cam Schlittler’s sparkling outing in the series finale against the Seattle Mariners. Schlittler joined staff ace Max Fried at 2-0 after shutting out the Mariners over 6 1/3 innings in New York’s 5-3 win.
Led by their dominant starting pitching, the Yankees are 5-1 and have the American League’s best record ahead of their three-game series against the Miami Marlins. The Marlins also are 5-1 through six games.
Luis Gil Will Return to the Yankees in Mid-April
Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, did not make the Yankees opening-day roster but instead remained at the team’s facility in Tampa, Florida after struggling during spring training. Gil pitched to a 4.66 ERA but allowed six home runs in just 19 1/3 innings over six spring-training starts.
Still, the plan for Gil has been for him to rejoin the Yankees in mid-April. With four off days over the first 11 days of the season, the Yankees could afford to skip Gil and ride a rotation of Fried, Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers.
Keyed by that quartet, the Yankees have allowed just five runs in their six games.
But Boone confirmed Gil will make a start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre then pitch for the Yankees shortly thereafter.
“He’ll throw his bullpen with Triple-A, make his next start, and then be in line for the next one with us,” Boone said.
The Yankees will play 13 straight days between April 7-19. That means they will need Gil, and he is likely to make his first big-league start against the Tampa Bay Rays on either April 10 or April 11 at Tropicana Field.
Aaron Boone: Carlos Rodon’s Hamstring Injury is ‘a Minor Thing’
Gil isn’t the only Yankees pitcher absent, which bodes well for the future. But Carlos Rodon tweaked his hamstring while recovering from his shoulder injury last week, which set him back.
Still, Boone said Rodon’s injury wasn’t serious.
“It does seem to be a minor thing,” Boone said. “But we’ll have a better feel over the next couple days when our trainers here get a look at him.”
Rodon was projected to miss at least the first month of the season after having shoulder surgery shortly after the Yankees’ season ended last October. But the Yankees have been treating Rodon’s hamstring as a setback, even though he may not miss any extra time, according to Boone.
“He’ll be there for opening day and stuff,” Boone said of Rodon. “So, we’ll see how the next few days go as far as when he gets back going to his side (session) and the next live (batting practice) and all that. So, we’ll have a better idea over the next few days.”
Yankees Send Clear Message on Luis Gil’s Role After Rotation Snub