Despite the Yankees’ loss to the Mariners on Monday, Aaron Judge had nothing but admiration over their pitching staff’s efforts.
Much of the hype surrounding the New York Yankees in 2024 has revolved around the production of their bats; in particular, the Juan Soto addition has worked out even better than even the Yankees anticipated. But the Yankees have not gotten off to a blazing start to the 2024 season if only their bats were producing. As Aaron Judge pointed out even after their 5-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Monday, the Yankees’ pitching corps continues to impress.
“That’s why we got those guys. It’s been incredible to watch them do their thing, each one of them is trying to outdo the other after each start,” Judge told reporters, via SNY Yankees on Twitter (X).
"It's been incredible to watch them do their thing, each one of them is trying to outdo the other"
Aaron Judge on the Yankees' rotation: pic.twitter.com/jKpolMJ3g6
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 21, 2024
Indeed, it takes a team effort for a ballclub to get off to a blazing 33-16 start that has the Yankees owning the second best record in the MLB at the moment. The Yankees will be wishing that the bullpen manages to get back on track after Clay Holmes allowed four runs in a disastrous ninth inning on Monday, but their starting rotation is more than holding their end of the bargain.
Yankees’ pitching staff, on a roll
The Yankees’ rotation has been dynamite in recent weeks, and it’s not like only one or two starters of theirs have pitched gems during this hot streak. In addition to the solid 7.1-inning outing Marcus Stroman pitched against the Mariners, the likes of Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt, and Carlos Rodon have all been on point.
Cortes and Rodon, at the very least, have a track record of success that makes them liable to be held at a higher standard. Both are former All-Stars, giving them shiny pedigrees. But it’s not like getting the best out of them in 2024 was a guarantee. Both endured rough, injury-riddled 2023 seasons, after all. But in 2024, they have been healthy and able to front a Yankees rotation that seems to be getting deeper and deeper. Meanwhile, Stroman, the Yankees’ major pitching signing this past offseason, has mostly provided bang for the buck.
But then the Yankees have developed Gil and Schmidt to round out the rotation, and those two have surpassed expectations. Gil is coming off a 14-strikeout outing, although it’s worth mentioning that it did come against the hapless Chicago White Sox. And then Schmidt, after putting up a middling 32-start season in 2023, has been better in every way through the first nine games of the 2024 season.
To start the year, the Yankees’ pitching has been the best in the MLB, based on ERA. It might be frightening for other teams to think that this talented group of pitchers could become even better when their talisman returns.
New York is doing all this without Gerrit Cole
There was plenty of concern surrounding the Yankees’ pitching when Gerrit Cole appeared to sustain a serious injury prior to the start of the 2024 season. Cole sustained an elbow injury that has kept him out since April, and at this point, it remains unclear when the 33-year old ace will be back on the mound. (The good news is that he recently took a major step in his recovery process.)
Cole has been one of the best starters in the MLB for the past decade, and he has been one of its greatest workhorses in recent memory as well. He has pitched over 200 innings in a single season six times for his career, including in 2023, and he has been consistently top-tier.
But now, it’s a marvel that the Yankees will have to debate who Cole will bump off from the starting rotation when he returns from injury. That’s how good their rotation has been, especially as of late. Will they roll with a six-man rotation in a bid to keep their guys healthy? Cole is not getting younger, so he’ll be handled with care when he recovers, so perhaps this is the strategy that they roll with, especially when all five guys in their rotation at the moment are earning their keep.
For a team that had plenty of pitching question marks to begin the season, they have smashed everyone’s expectations of them nearly through the first 50 games of the season. And now, the Yankees are in the driver’s seat in the AL East standings, with room to grow to spare.
News
Will The Mets Trade Pete Alonso?
The Mets head to London for a World Tour series against the Phillies this weekend. Even after sweeping the Nationals, New York owns a 27-35 record that has them above just the Rockies and Marlins in the National League. They’re…
LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks will have new jerseys and primary logos next season
Photo credit: MayorsManor The Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks are set to have new jerseys and primary logos next season. A new report revealed that Fanatics, the brand hired by the NHL to produce their jerseys for the…
Oilers Stanley Cup Finals ticket prices are revealed and fans are shocked
Photo credit: Rogers Place The Stanley Cup Finals are the pinnacle of the NHL, and now that they once again feature a Canadian team, prices are absolutely through the roof. It’s common knowledge that Canadian fans are the most passionate…
“Poor Dude Starving for Attention”- Austin Rivers Takes a Dig While Responding to Stephen Jackson’s ‘Irrelevant’ Comment
Stephen Jackson, Austin Rivers (Image Source: Getty Images) After a recent conversation, there appears to be growing animosity between Stephen Jackson and Austin Rivers, two former NBA players. Jackson labeled Rivers irrelevant, which prompted Rivers to reply on X, the previous Twitter platform. Austin…
Bruins, Stars, Avalanche emerge as favorites to land Patrick Kane
Photo credit: Detroit Red Wings The betting odds for Patrick Kane’s next team have been released and we now know that the Bruins, Stars, and Avalanche are the favorites to land the American superstar winger. The betting odds released today…
Former NBA Guard Delonte West Arrested Again, Disturbing Mugshot Released
Delonte West (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images). Former NBA player Delonte West was arrested again this Thursday, according to an official representing the Fairfax County Detention Center. The 40-year-old was booked on a pair of misdemeanor charges, having violated the conditions of…
End of content
No more pages to load