One of the primary focal points to monitor as the regular season draws to a close is the strategic decisions the New York Yankees will make concerning their starting pitching line-up in the postseason. The Yankees’ skipper Aaron Boone has just shed some light on the direction he intends to take.
In his address prior to Tuesday’s showdown against the Seattle Mariners, Boone affirmed that Marcus Stroman, who was sidelined in his previous start, will continue operating out of the bullpen for the next rotation cycle as reported by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Thanks to the emergence of rookie hurler Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt’s recent comeback from injury, the Yankees are now endowed with remarkable depth in their starting pitching roster. While the likes of reigning American League Cy Young champion Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Gil seem assured of securing spots in the postseason rotation, Nestor Cortes, Marcus Stroman, and Schmidt also make strong cases to start in a game come October.
Albeit Stroman has faced challenges lately. Now that he has been benched in his last two starts, it appears that Stroman’s destiny is close to being sealed.
Marcus Stroman’s 2024 campaign
Stroman has experienced a rollercoaster first season with the Yankees, displaying fluctuations in performance. Stroman kicked off the season strongly, boasting a 7-4 record with a 3.51 ERA in the initial phase. However, post-All-Star break, Stroman’s form dipped, registering a 5.40 ERA across 43 1/3 innings.
While the seasoned 33-year-old Stroman, a two-time All-Star and a decade-long veteran in the MLB with playoff exposure, might seem like an automatic inclusion in the future rotation plans, that might not align with the Yankees’ best interests. Despite pitching concerns prevailing for a major part of the season due to injuries, the pitching contingent is now back at full strength and has transformed into a formidable asset.
Cortes has already demonstrated his potential as a valuable relief choice after a commendable four innings of no-hit pitching in a recent bullpen appearance. Boone refrained from utilizing Stroman in any relief capacities following his skip. To accurately assess Stroman’s viability as a reliever come October, he must gather crucial playing time in the remaining week and a half of the regular season.
The Yankees currently hold a three-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East and have a slim 1/2 game edge over the Cleveland Guardians for the top record in the AL. The team’s expectations are soaring. Boone faces mounting pressure to nail down his postseason pitching arrangements.
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