Despite not having their ace, Gerrit Cole, since March, the Yankees still boast one of the greatest pitching staffs in the league, especially in the starting rotation. It’s fair to argue that pitching has been the main driver of the Yankees’ early success. With an ERA of 3.10 as of May 12, the Yanks are second in MLB only to the Boston Red Sox. until Cole’s injury, their starting rotation raised concerns; until Sunday’s victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, they are currently eighth in the ERA standings at 3.35. Additionally, they are among the top five in nearly all significant team pitching statistics.
Even Without Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ rotation is thriving; veterans keep it afloat
In order to strengthen their starting rotation following Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury during spring training, New York turned even more to seasoned veterans Marcus Stroman and Carlos Rodón. Although both have thrown effectively, Rodón’s success in the Bronx is significant. Rodón’s first season in pinstripes was a complete bust, even after the Yankees offered the lefty a big $162 million deal after his All-Star 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants.
But during the winter, Rodón changed up his arsenal to incorporate a cunning cutter, which has been a terrific complement to his four-seam/slider combination. The results speak for themselves, as he has already made four excellent starts out of eight, which is more than he will have in 2023 (three). Despite Rodón’s remarkable comeback season, the two players in the rotation following him have taken center stage.
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