The New York Yankees will field their lower pitching depth in the next couple of games against the San Francisco Giants.
Bronx Bombers are currently facing a deep conundrum regarding their pitching staff. Just ahead of the season, their 2/3rd of the depth entered the injury list. The team’s top starters, Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, and Frankie Montas, suffered respective injuries and will remain unavailable for the foreseeable future. Hence, the Yankees have no choice but to field their lower depth pretty early on this season.
Usually, in a perfect world, the New York Yankees never felt the need for the lower pitching depth’s services as the starters did most of the work. Gerrit Cole has been leading the rotation for four years and counting. However, this season the tables have turned, and all hell broke loose as the Bombers lost half of their starting rotation to injuries. Hence, they now plan to field the backups just in the second game of the season.
Clarke Schmidt, Jhony Brito To Start This Weekend For The Yankees
Gerrit Cole had the perfect opening-day outing, recording 11 strikeouts in six shutout innings. However, his number 2, Carlos Rodon, whom Cole was supposed to pass on the torch, fell prey to the injury bug. Moreover, the following members of the rotation, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas, too are unavailable due to the same issues. Hence, the New York Yankees have summoned their lower bullpen arms to start this weekend.
Clarke Schmidt and Jhony Brito will essay the role of the starter this weekend. While Clarke will throw in Saturday’s game, Jhony will feature in Sunday’s matchup. Schmidt, who came in the spring training with loads of uncertainty over his future, swept away the starters role amid injury concerns within the camp. In 19 2/3 innings pitched this spring, he registered 25 strikeouts, most of which came through his new weapon, the cutters. On the other hand, Jhony Brito received a surprise call-up in the 40-man roster to avoid the rule 5 draft. Moreover, he bossed the spring session with a 2.08 ERA in 13 pitched innings. Hence, these two remain the most trusted man for the starters’ job as the Yankees battle the injury issues.
Gerrit Cole Aced The Opening Day, Took Home A Unique Record
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees most trusted and ace starter, Gerrit Cole, certainly lived up to the expectations on the opening day. He received the responsibility to start against the rivals San Francisco Giants, and he toyed around with the hitters. Cole ended his day with six shutout innings and set a new opening-day record for the Yankees.
At the end of four innings, Cole had 10 strikeouts to his name, surpassing the previous record of nine. Hence, Gerrit became the Yankee pitcher with the most strikeouts on the opening day. Furthermore, after six long innings and 95 pitches, Cole left the mound and was welcomed in the dugout with the loudest cheers from the packed Bronx crowd.