The New York YankeesThe team's rotation has been strong this season, even though Gerrit Cole has been sidelined.
The 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner has been out since he had elbow inflammation in Spring Training. Last year, Cole led the league in starts (33), innings pitched (209), ERA (2.63), and WHIP (0.98) with 222 strikeouts.
Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil have been pitching in during Cole’s absence this season, except for Cody Poteet making a start in a doubleheader. Cody Poteet made a start in a doubleheaderThe five mentioned pitchers have started each game, except for Cody Poteet's doubleheader start.
Cortes returned from a rotator cuff injury and has made eight starts, pitching to a 3.72 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.
Rodon, who signed a six-year, $162 million deal last offseason, had a tough first year with the team but has looked good in 2024. The 31-year-old southpaw has also made eight starts, pitching to a 3.56 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 43 IP.
Stroman joined the team this season on a two-year, $37 million deal. Despite a rough start against the Astros on May 9, the 33-year-old veteran has a 3.80 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 42.2 IP.
But the surprise performances have come from the two homegrown players: Schmidt and Gil. These pitchers at the back end of the rotation have the best stats. And they’re making only $2 million, and $750,000 this season, respectively.
Together, New York’s starting rotation has a 3.36 ERA and 225 strikeouts, which ranks second overall in the bigs.
Schmidt is surprising everyone with his performance
Last year, Schmidt was expected to be the No. 5. The 28-year-old, a first-round pick by the Yanks in the 2017 MLB Draft, went 9-9 with a 4.64 ERA. Schmidt had routinely struggled the third time around an opposition’s batting order.
With Cole on the IL, Schmidt has worked as New York’s fourth starter and seems to benefit from the ace’s mentorship.
Schmidt mentioned that he's learned more in the past year than in his whole career due to Cole’s guidance. told The Athletic mentioned Cole’s guidance.
Schmidt worked into the seventh inning in the Bronx Bomber’s 2-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10. Schmidt got his fourth win of the season and lowered his ERA to 2.95 after allowing just five hits and no runs.
Gil Progressing After Tommy John surgery
The 25-year-old Gil burst onto the scene in August of 2021. He became the first major leaguer to start his career with three scoreless starts. However, Tommy John surgery cut his 2022 campaign short and kept him out all of last year.
An impressive Spring Training led to Gil being chosen as the No. 5 pitcher in the Yankees’ rotation.
The righty has been dominant except for leading in walks. In Gil’s seven starts, he’s given up just 18 hits in 37 innings. He’s collected 45 strikeouts and has pitched to a team-best 2.92 ERA. Gil allowed one run on one hit over six innings of work in New York’s 10-3 win over the Houston Astros on May 7. He struck out five batters.
He’s also benefitted from Cole’s guidance — and even received an endorsement from Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez.
“He keeps on growing and he’s got a really high ceiling,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Gil.
