Rotation excels even minus Cole
The Yankees lost their best starting pitcher — perhaps the best in the sport — and have been perfectly fine through the first few weeks of the season.
Without ace Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ rotation has posted a 2.86 ERA through 13 games, the third-best in the sport as MLB action began Thursday. By FanGraphs’ measure of Wins Above Replacement, the Yankees’ rotation was the seventh-most valuable in the majors.
Carlos Rodon (1.72 ERA) has pitched like a No. 1, even if he is pitching differently — with a wider repertoire — than in his best seasons. Luis Gil (three runs in nine innings) has shown excellent stuff in stepping up to the No. 5 role.
“We feel like all the guys we’re running out there in our rotation right now are very capable,” manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday, before the Yankees begin a series in Cleveland on Friday. “Even the ones coming off of tough seasons or injury or whatever are not far removed from being at the top of their game, with a track record.”
At least in the early going, Rodon has bounced back from a brutal 2023, and Nestor Cortes — with a pair of subpar starts before an eight-inning, zero-run gem Monday in a win over the Marlins — has shown signs that he can recover from an injury-filled ’23.
Clarke Schmidt, who might have entered camp as the most reliable starter outside of Cole, has been the surprising weak spot through two starts with a 4.66 ERA.
Schmidt will get the start Friday to open the series with the Guardians.
“With the talent those guys possess, I’m not surprised when they do go out and have success,” Boone said of his Coleless rotation. “It’s not a given by any means, but I don’t think it’s a reach with any of those guys, either.”
➤ The Yankees have walked at least five times in each of their past five games. Their 66 walks are the most in the club’s first 13 games of a season in the past 14 years (since 2011).
Aaron Judge (14 walks) and Juan Soto (11) predictably have led the way. Anthony Volpe and Gleyber Torres (seven apiece) have been the next best.
“[Volpe] hasn’t given away at-bat yet,” hitting coach James Rowson said. “Not that I can think of off the top of my head. He’s battled every at-bat.”