The New York Yankees will be without starting pitcher Luis Gil for at least the next two weeks due to a back strain, so the team recalled Will Warren from Triple-A earlier this week. Warren will replace Gil in the rotation beginning Saturday, when the Yankees face the Colorado Rockies on Old Timer’s Day, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Boone noted that Marcus Stroman, who appears to have resolved the mechanical concerns with his pitching, will start on Sunday to maintain the rotation’s order.
Will Warren will have his biggest opportunity with the Yankees so far in his career
This will be Warren’s third call-up to the majors this season, as he’s been brought up occasionally for spot starts over the past month. He has made three starts so far, but they haven’t gone particularly well, as he has a 8.59 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP over 14.2 innings pitched in the big leagues.
However, his most recent outing against the Chicago White Sox on August 14 was his best performance in the MLB to date. He pitched five innings, allowing two runs, issuing no walks, and striking out five batters. As the fifth-highest-rated prospect in the Yankees’ farm system, the team is eager to see him get comfortable pitching in the majors and start delivering strong performances.
The injury to Gil gives Warren with an opportunity to build a name for himself and possibly push for a spot in the bullpen on the Yankees’ playoff squad this year. The team is still waiting on Clarke Schmidt, who started a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on Friday, so Warren will need to perform well on the mound with two crucial pitchers out.
This opportunity for him might also serve as an audition for a job in the starting rotation next season, and the Yankees will be hoping that Warren can capitalize on it amid a tight pennant fight with only one month left in the season.
