The New York Yankees announced two crucial pitching updates on their official X account earlier Wednesday:
The Stroman Situation
At the end of the day, getting Marcus Stroman back is a good thing. While many fans are already sick of his inconsistency and reluctance to move to the bullpen earlier this spring, he can still provide manager Aaron Boone with innings.
Over three starts and nine and 1/3 innings this year, Stroman has an 11.57 ERA, a 6.61 FIP, and seven strikeouts to seven walks. He has been sidelined since mid-April with left knee inflammation, and perhaps that injury was a precursor to his poor performance.
Stroman was an okay starter for the New York Yankees in his debut 2024 campaign, going 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA, a 4.62 FIP, and 113 strikeouts to 60 walks over 154 and 2/3 innings.
If he can match even that output, there is no reason he can not slot back into the bottom of this rotation.
New York has done more than stay afloat after its ace, Gerrit Cole, underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. Max Fried (1.84 ERA, 2.87 FIP) looks like a Cy Young candidate. Carlos Rodón (2.87 ERA, 3.27 FIP) is finally delivering on that big contract he signed three years ago.
Clarke Schmidt (4.04 ERA, 3.91 FIP) has had his ups and downs, but remains a reliable, middle-of-the-staff piece. Rookie Will Warren has good stuff, and his 75 strikeouts to 28 walks over 57 and 1/3 innings is encouraging, but he also has a 5.34 ERA and a 3.34 FIP.
With Luis Gil also still on the injured list, long reliever Ryan Yarbrough has filled in nicely as the fifth starter, but ideally, eventually moves back to the bullpen.
Stroman is far from perfect, and this season has been a disaster so far. But, maybe another year in the Bronx and this mental, as well as physical, reset will ease him back into the 11-year veteran with a career 3.77 ERA that the Yankees need.
A Search for Bullpen Support?
Jake Cousins, meanwhile, is dealing with a UCL injury and seeking other opinions, according to Greg Joyce of The New York Post. The wording on the New York Yankees X post is a bit confusing, but it feels like it will be without Cousins for the foreseeable future.
The bullpen still has a respectable combined ERA of 3.80 (14th in the Majors) and has survived without Cousins. However, he was also stellar in his first season with the Yankees in 2024 with a 2.37 ERA, a 4.06 FIP, and 53 strikeouts to 20 walks over 38 innings.
Closer Luke Weaver did throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and hopefully, he can come back sooner rather than later.
The Devin Williams experience has been a whirlwind, and while New York still has plenty of quality relievers (such as Tim Hill, Mark Leiter Jr., Jonathan Loáisiga, and Fernando Cruz), a potential deadline deal could bolster its October chances.
The most Yankees approach, however, feels like nabbing an under-the-radar name off the waivers and letting pitching coach Matt Blake work his magic once again.
Until then, Stroman should have plenty of chances to earn his Pinstripes, and New York will hope for the best after Cousins’ setback.
Yankees Get Major Marcus Stroman Update Amid Injury