The New York Yankees possess a strong starting rotation with talented arms such as Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Luis Severino, and Frankie Montas. These pitchers have shown their ability to go deep into games and provide quality starts. The only problem is the rotation has never attained the luxury to play together yet this season.
Since the beginning of the season, Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, and Nestor Cortes have spent time on the injury list. While Severino and Cortes made a comeback, Rodon is still reeling under a back injury. Meanwhile, a recent injury to a key starter will force the Yankees to alter its rotation strategy, at least for the next few weeks.
Yankees To Field Four-Man Rotation For The Month Of June
Already three months into the 2023 MLB season, and the New York Yankees still lack a complete pitching rotation. Carlos Rodon is still in rehab, making positive progress. On top of that, the team placed yet another key pitcher of the rotation, Nestor Cortes, on IL due to a shoulder injury. Hence, at present, Gerrit Cole, Domingo German, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Severino remain the only healthy starters at the Bombers’ helm. Under these dire circumstances, the team management has decided to alter its strategy for the near future.
As per the latest rumors, the Yankees will play with a four-man pitching rotation at least for the next few weeks. They had the option to recall Jhony Brito as Cortes’s replacement. Instead, they called in LHP Matt Krook, who will most likely serve as a bullpen reliever. The reason behind the strategy call could also be the anticipation of Carlos Rodon’s return. Rodon could begin a minor league assignment really soon and is eyeing a return in the first week of July. Hence, for now, the Yankees will focus on using these four for the next three weeks and just pray for the move to work in their favor.
Nestor Cortes Placed On 15-Day IL
The New York Yankees have placed pitcher Nestor Cortes on the 15-day IL due to a rotator cuff strain. The move comes after Cortes experienced discomfort in his shoulder during a recent outing. The team made the decision to give him the necessary time to recover and rehabilitate the injury. Not only that, the timeline for Cortes’ return will depend on the severity of the rotator cuff strain and how well he responds to treatment. The team will prioritize his long-term health and make sure he is fully recovered before allowing him to resume pitching duties.
While losing Cortes is undoubtedly a setback for the Yankees, the team has faced injury challenges throughout the season and has shown resilience in adapting to roster changes. They have recalled LHP Matt Krook from Triple-A on a temporary basis. However, Krook is unlikely to serve as a starter. He could come off the bench as a reliever at best. Regardless, the timing of Nestor’s injury has not been ideal. He already was struggling with his rhythm, and the recent injury is just going to make things worse.