The New York Yankees are still dealing with their shaky pitching lineup. Previously, the ace pitcher Gerrit Cole was on the Injured list for over two months. During the spring training, the reigning AL Cy Young winner hurt his right elbow severely. As a result, he had a nerve inflammation that kept him out of the lineup for over a couple of months. It scared the fans and the management that the absence of the ace starter would weaken the already shaky pitching department. However, it did not shake them as badly as they feared.
Luis Gil started the season on a very promising note. He had the best ERA in the American League for a few months. Even the bullpen of the Yankees was doing a pretty decent job. Clarke Schmidt, Clay Holmes, and others raised hopes in the Bronx. Then, somewhere in the middle of the season, the team got into a slump around mid-June. Pitchers like Luis Gil started to lose their good momentum, and at present, the pitching department looks really shaky.
What Kind Of Changes The Yankees Can Make To Their Pitching Lineup?
Greg Joyce of the New York Post wrote, “Baseball has a way of working itself out.” It is true because, at the beginning of the season, fans and media were often asking Aaron Boone when Gerrit Cole would return. Moreover, they were peppering the Yankees manager about which spot can be opened for the ace pitcher when he returns. Later, in May, Clarke Schmidt suffered a severe injury that got him to the 60-day Injured List. Hence, it was not a tough decision regarding whose spot was open for the return of Cole. But last Monday, Gerrit Cole had to stop his start in the bottom of the seventh inning and left with a trainer. He suffered a right calf cramp, and the Yankees Nation will hope that it’s not a big deal.
But the manager will have to make a decision about the lineup for the following games as there seems to be no simple solution to fix the issue. On Sunday, Luis Gil has thrown 80 pitches during a rehab start. He might return to the lineup this weekend against the Chicago Cubs at the Wrigley Field. Later, on Monday, as it seems Clarke Schmidt has made his final and third rehab start. He did a good job with the Double-A Somerset. Like Gil, Schmidt can return too this weekend against the Cubs.
Aaron Boone Indicated That A Difficult Decision Is Coming
On Monday, the Yankees skipper indicated that they could potentially use a lineup with six men. It might be just a one time thing to help get Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt “Slot back in.” But the NY side would not like to do it for the remainder of the season. Hence, things seem to hint that a difficult decision is coming.
Prior to the series opener against the Texas Rangers, Aaron Boone said, “We’ll see.” The manager also mentioned that it is not yet time to make a tough call on somebody. Moreover, the skipper was like, “Hopefully, we won’t have to decide because of something bad happened. Instead, we will do it when it is really necessary.”
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