The New York Yankees pitching staff is expected to undergo significant change upon the return of injured starting pitchers Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil. Schmidt, struggling from a lat strain, pitched his third minor league rehab start on Sunday, whereas Gil threw 81 pitches in his MondayMonday’s rehab outing.
The duo should be ready to be activated by this weekend. However, with a four-man rotation already at Aaron Boone’s helm, the Yankees manager faces a conundrum to make tough choices. However, there is a way where Boone can make everyone happy, but it might be a temporary rather than a sustainable solution.
Aaron Boone To Embrace Creative Solutions Over Rotation Conundrum
The New York Yankees are making significant adjustments to their pitching rotation, with several key players returning from injury. The recent influx of recovering pitchers has created both opportunities and challenges for manager Aaron Boone as he seeks to find the right balance in the rotation for the remainder of the season. Clarke Schmidt and Luis will be ready to be activated on the road this weekend. With these returns, Boone and his coaching staff must decide how to integrate these pitchers without disrupting the rhythm of those who have filled in admirably during their absence. Currently, the rotation already has four starting pitchers: Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman and Nestor Cortes. One option is to push someone into the bullpen.
However, Aaron Boone is looking for a creative solution, with a 6-man rotation plan also being on the cards. While it may not be sustainable in the long term, the Yankees manager is satisfied with temporary gains. With six starting pitchers on the rotation, Boone can opt for a two-starter approach where two pitchers combine to cover the majority of a game. This way, the Bronx Bombers can also eliminate the workload issues for struggling and injured pitchers. “We’ll work through that here over the next 24-48 hours,” said Boone. As the Yankees navigate these changes, the flexibility and depth of their pitching staff will be tested. With a tight race for the playoffs, every decision about the rotation will be critical, and Boone will need to make strategic moves to maximize the team’s chances of success not just in the regular season but also in the postseason.
Jasson Dominguez To Stay In Minors Despite Left Field Hole
Left-fielder Alex Verdugo is hitting new lows each day with a hideous offensive performance. He has hit only a single home run in the second half of the 2024 season and none in the past 30 games. However, despite the visible gap, the Yankees refuse to promote top prospect Jasson Dominguez to the big leagues.
Jasson Dominguez has hit four home runs in the past two weeks in Triple-A with batting average crossing the .300 mark. He is fit and capable enough to not only replace Alex Verdugo but also contribute consistency for the remainder of the 2024 MLB season. However, the Yankees’ continue to unnecessarily extend Verdugo’s leash.
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