The New York Yankees’ 2024 season has been highlighted by impressive batting, especially with the successful addition of Juan Soto. However, their early success isn’t solely due to their offense. As Aaron Judge noted after their recent 5-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees’ pitching has been outstanding.
The Yankees had won seven consecutive games before losing to the Mariners. Judge praised the pitching staff’s recent performances, including Marcus Stroman’s 7.1 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts and one walk on Monday. Despite the loss, the starting rotation has been stellar.
Judge highlighted the competitive nature among the pitchers, each striving to outperform the others. The Yankees’ 33-16 record, the second best in MLB, reflects a team effort. Although the bullpen struggled, with Clay Holmes allowing four runs in a disastrous ninth inning against Seattle, the starting pitchers have been reliable.
The Yankees’ rotation, featuring Marcus Stroman, Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt, and Carlos Rodon, has been particularly strong. Cortes and Rodon, both former All-Stars, have rebounded from injury-plagued 2023 seasons to lead the rotation. Stroman has been a valuable offseason addition, while Gil and Schmidt have exceeded expectations, with Gil recently striking out 14 against the Chicago White Sox and Schmidt improving significantly from last year.
Despite Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury keeping him out since April, the Yankees’ pitching staff leads MLB in ERA. Cole, one of the league’s top starters, is nearing a return, posing a challenge for the Yankees on how to fit him into an already strong rotation. They may consider a six-man rotation to manage workloads and keep pitchers healthy.
The Yankees have defied early-season pitching concerns, exceeding expectations and leading the AL East with room to improve.
Leave a Reply