The traditional rhythms of the baseball season often take unexpected turns, and for the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday night was one of those moments. The Bronx witnessed a rainout, pushing both teams to rethink their starting rotations.
This unscheduled pause followed a day off for the Yankees on Monday, creating a unique situation for Yankees manager Aaron Boone. In a notable decision, Boone opted to skip Marcus Stroman's scheduled start, a move that sets the stage for a series of strategic adjustments in the lineup.
Stroman, who last took the mound on Friday, will return to action on Sunday, August 11, benefiting from an extended period of rest. This adjustment grants Stroman eight days between starts, a factor that Boone believes could prove beneficial. "I just felt like there'd be some benefit in Stro having a couple of bullpens to work through some things," Boone explained.
This strategic deployment aligns the Yankees' rotation for the coming days, starting with the challenge of a doubleheader on Wednesday. With pitchers Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Ródon, and Gerrit Cole available, Boone can approach this doubleheader with both flexibility and a keen strategic mindset. The second game on Wednesday will see Will Warren taking the ball, further solidifying the Yankees' approach.
Stroman's season has been something of a rollercoaster. Early success was marked by a 6-2 record with a 2.82 ERA over his first 14 starts. However, recent outings have revealed some struggles. Over his last eight starts, Stroman has managed just one win against four losses, with an elevated ERA of 6.87. One particularly challenging outing against Boston saw Stroman allow five runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings. Compounding these struggles, another game against the Toronto Blue Jays unfolded with Stroman giving up seven runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Contributing to these issues, Stroman’s fourseam fastball has seen a slight dip in velocity, averaging 88.8 miles per hour compared to his season average of 89.8 mph. Despite these numbers, Boone remains optimistic. "I'm not too concerned about it. I pay attention to it, but I felt like he's in a pretty good place right now as far as some of the things he's been working through and some of the video he's looked at, then how his bullpen went [Tuesday]. So, no, not too concerned. And physically he feels good," Boone noted.
As the Yankees look to navigate this mid-season shuffle, they do so with a blend of caution and confidence. With a 67-46 record, they sit at the top of the AL East, holding a slim half-game margin. Keeping this lead will require strategic thinking and, perhaps, a bit of luck with the weather. Boone's decisions over the coming days will be key in maintaining the Yankees' momentum and ensuring that the team remains poised for the challenges ahead.