The New York Yankees pitching rotation has performed surprisingly well in the absence of ace Gerrit Cole. Cole who got sidelined with elbow injury in spring training, is still on IL with the rest of his peers handling the fort in his absence. However, a big shake up awaits the Bombers in next few weeks.
Gerrit Cole has begun taking crucial steps in his recovery process, and his return could be much closer. However, with the five-man rotation performing exceptionally well in the reigning AL CY Young pitcher’s absence, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone will have a positive headache at his table in the upcoming month.
Who Will Gerrit Cole Replace In The Yankees Rotation?
The New York Yankees five-man rotation consisting of Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes, Marcus Stroman, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil have performed exceptionally well this year. And hence, the Yanks haven’t really felt the void of Cole so far. However, as the team prepares for Cole’s return, they find themselves faced with tough rotation decisions that will undoubtedly shape the course of their season. Cole’s impending return raises a number of questions for the skipper Aaron Boone as to how to integrate him back into the rotation without disrupting the rhythm and success of the current starters. One option is to move to a six-man rotation, allowing Cole and the other starters to pitch on extended rest and reduce the risk of injury and fatigue over the course of the season.
Another option is to demote a starter from the rotation. Since Marcus Stroman and Carlos Rodon have signed a major league contract, it won’t be appropriate to send them down to minors. Cortes is another veteran who covered for Gerrit Cole on opening day. Therefore, the decision will eventually come down to Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil, with the latter at more risk due to lack of major league experience. Notably, Gil has maintained a 2.92 ERA in seven starts, which is impressive from a prospect. Demoting him would shake his confidence. However, skipper Aaron Boone has to ensure that if he decides to drop Gil from the rotation, he gives the pitcher enough confidence to wait for his due. With success comes tough decisions. And the Yankees will need to carefully navigate the delicate balance between maximizing Cole’s contributions and maintaining the chemistry of the pitching staff.
Gerrit Cole Has No Return Date In Sight
Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole is slowly ramping up his throwing activities as he nears a potential return from IL. Cole threw a bullpen session last week and he will require to throw a plenty of them in the coming weeks before a rehab assignment is scheduled for the ace.
Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake hinted that Gerrit Cole will likely skip his initial May 27 timeline as the team does not want to rush his recovery. Hence, by the current cautious approach, Cole could return somewhere around mid-June or around the All-Star break, which is when all the Yanks opt for extreme caution and delay.
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