The New York Yankees have showcased remarkable depth in their pitching rotation this season, despite the absence of their star pitcher Gerrit Cole due to injury. Cole, who earned the 2023 American League Cy Young Award, has been sidelined with elbow inflammation since Spring Training, leaving significant shoes to fill. Last season, Cole led the league in various categories, including starts, innings pitched, ERA, and WHIP, along with an impressive tally of strikeouts.
During Cole’s absence, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil have stepped up to fill the gap in the rotation. With the exception of Cody Poteet’s start in a doubleheader, this starting five has consistently taken the mound. Cortes, returning from a previous injury, has delivered solid performances, posting a 3.72 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched.
Rodon, who had a challenging first year with the Yankees, has shown improvement in the 2024 season, recording a 3.56 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 43 innings. Stroman, a recent addition to the team, has also contributed positively despite a rough start, boasting a 3.80 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.
However, the most surprising performances have come from the homegrown talents, Schmidt and Gil, who have exceeded expectations. Despite being considered back-of-the-rotation players, they have demonstrated impressive skill sets while being relatively inexpensive assets for the team. Schmidt, mentored by Cole, has notably improved, as evidenced by his recent standout performance, pitching into the seventh inning in a shutout victory against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Gerrit Cole working with Luis Gil at the Trop 👀🌴#YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/Nrl2sy1lgJ
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 10, 2024
Gil, returning from Tommy John surgery, has showcased his potential with dominant outings, despite leading the league in walks. His impressive Spring Training performance earned him a spot as the team’s fifth starter, and he has since delivered outstanding results, boasting a team-best 2.92 ERA and demonstrating continued growth with guidance from Cole and recognition from baseball legend Pedro Martinez. Manager Aaron Boone has expressed optimism about Gil’s future, highlighting his potential to continue evolving and contributing to the team’s success.