As the regular season nears its end, one of the key storylines to follow is the New York Yankees’ starting rotation plans for the postseason. Yankees manager Aaron Boone recently shed light on his approach.
Before Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, Boone announced that Marcus Stroman, who had his last start skipped, will remain in the bullpen for at least one more rotation cycle, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
With rookie Luis Gil stepping up and Clarke Schmidt returning from injury, the Yankees now have an unexpected depth in their starting pitching. While Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Gil seem to be secure in the postseason rotation, Nestor Cortes, Stroman, and Schmidt also present strong cases to start in October.
However, Stroman has been struggling lately. With two of his starts skipped, it seems his future with the rotation is uncertain.
**Marcus Stroman’s 2024 Season**
Stroman’s first year with the Yankees has been inconsistent, particularly towards the end of the season. He began strong, finishing the first half with a 7-4 record and a 3.51 ERA. However, post-All-Star break, his performance has declined, resulting in a 5.40 ERA over 43.1 innings. Although the 33-year-old, a two-time All-Star with playoff experience, might seem like a natural choice for the rotation, it may not be the best option for the Yankees. With the pitching staff finally healthy, what was once a concern has turned into a strength.
Cortes has already proven himself as a reliable relief option with an impressive four-inning no-hit appearance earlier this month. Boone hasn’t given Stroman any relief opportunities since his last skipped start, and to evaluate Stroman’s potential as a reliever in October, he needs to get some game time in the final week and a half of the regular season.
Currently, the Yankees are three games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East and half a game ahead of the Cleveland Guardians for the best record in the American League. With high expectations, the pressure is on Boone to finalize the postseason rotation effectively.
