How The Yankees Rotation Has Managed To Stay Afloat Without Cole

The Yankees came into the 2024 season with every reason to be excited. After a disappointing 2023 missing the postseason, they went out and traded a package to the San Diego Padres for 25-year old phenom Juan Soto. Soto combined with Aaron Judge made the mind of every Yankee fan wander with possibilities of their 28th World Series. However, during Spring Training, Yankee ace Gerrit Cole fresh off of his 2023 Cy Young campaign went to 60-day IL with elbow inflammation. The heart of the fans sank, and optimism was running thin within many.

The rotation would now look like Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt, Marcus Stroman, and Luis Gil. While this rotation is serviceable, the thought of losing Cole for two months to start the year, caused many to wonder where the Yankees will be in the standings upon Cole’s arrival back into the rotation. The Yankee rotation since has surprised many and has been more than serviceable, they now are competing in a tight race for first place in the American League East division. Let’s look at each pitcher out of the rotation and break down how they’ve managed to help the team succeed despite Cole’s absence.

Nestor Cortes

Cortes has been one of the most beloved arms in the Yankee pitching staff for years. From his wacky deliveries to nasty stuff, Cortes provides great value to the New York rotation. His success was crucial, especially being the Opening Day starter in Houston. After the four game sweep in Houston, Cortes, and the rotation itself built up great confidence. Cortes has had his outings where he’s given up three to four runs but he’s also had two starts where he allowed no runs. Cortes is tied for 48th in the league with his 3.72 ERA, and currently leads the Yankees in strikeouts with 46.

Carlos Rodon

Rodon coming into 2024 knew he had to bounce back from his rough 2023. He came into Spring Training looking slimmer and more athletic than the year prior. Despite a rough start against Baltimore that featured him giving up seven runs, Rodon has been solid, with a 3-2 record, and a 3.56 ERA. Rodon’s fastball is averaging a velocity of 95.2 MPH, and he looks much better than he did coming off of his injury last season.

Marcus Stroman

A rather puzzling addition to this team to some fans was Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman. Stroman hadn’t been a fan favorite of Yankee fans in the past, and many wondered if he was washed or too old to play at his highest possible level. While it hasn’t been his highest level, Stroman has been solid in his time currently with New York. He’s only had one start where he went less than five innings pitched and besides that, has been everything he’s needed to be with a 3.80 ERA and a 2-2 record. Stroman’s charisma and apparent love for the Yankees and New York has also been an incredible spark to the clubhouse.

Clarke Schmidt

Clarke’s career so far has been rocky with the Yankees. His ERA besides a 3.12 in 2022 hasn’t been too good and with the absence of Gerrit Cole, there was an overall higher emphasis on Clarke and his success on the mound. Schmidt’s been more than serviceable as well with a 3.50 ERA in the back end of the Yankee rotation and a 3-1 record. When Clarke goes out now, fans can expect at least a five inning start, and he looks to be settling in more and more each start.

Luis Gil

Saving perhaps the best for last, is Luis Gil. Gil returned from a long injury, and has looked incredible since. Gil looks like he has real front-line ace potential with a fastball that averages in the high 90’s, a mid-80s slider, and a 90 MPH change up. Gil leads the Yankee pitching staff in ERA with a 2.92, and shares the lead for wins with three. If Gil can stay healthy, he’s shown he has the pitch mix and velocity to be a part of this rotation for a long time. If he can improve upon his command, the sky’s the limit for the 25-year-old starter.

With Cole’s return in the near future for the Yankees, the optimism is coming back from the fans. There’s now an issue as to where all these pitchers fit in this staff once Cole is back, and to have that problem compared to the problem of being maybe out of reach to win the division at this point of the season is much preferred by fans.

By Tobey Schulman