The traditional rhythms of the baseball season often take unexpected turns, and Tuesday night brought one such twist for the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels. A rainout in the Bronx forced both teams to adjust their starting rotations, disrupting their carefully laid plans.
Unscheduled Pause
The Yankees had just come off a day of rest on Monday, which added an extra layer of complexity to the situation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the strategic decision to skip Marcus Stroman's scheduled start. Instead, Stroman, who last pitched on Friday, will return to the mound on Sunday, August 11. This adjustment will give him eight days of rest before his next start. "I just felt like there'd be some benefit in Stro having a couple of bullpens to work through some things," Boone commented on the decision.
Doubleheader Challenges
With a doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday, the Yankees face a grueling day. Boone has the advantage of a flexible and deep starting rotation, with Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Ródon, and Gerrit Cole available to take the mound. This gives him the leeway to deploy his pitchers strategically. Will Warren is set to start the second game on Wednesday, a move that aligns the Yankees' rotation for the upcoming days.
Stroman's performance has been inconsistent in recent outings, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.82 ERA over his first 14 starts. However, in his last eight starts, Stroman has struggled, managing just one win against four losses and an elevated ERA of 6.87. In a particularly rough outing against Boston, he allowed five runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings. Similarly, against the Toronto Blue Jays, he gave up seven runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings. A closer look at his metrics reveals that his fourseam fastball velocity averaged 88.8 miles per hour, compared to his season average of 89.8 mph.
Manager's Confidence
Despite these struggles, Boone remains confident in Stroman's abilities. "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 said.
The Yankees currently hold a 67-46 record and are at the top of the AL East by a narrow half-game margin. This critical period of the season demands not only skill but also strategic ingenuity from the team's management. Boone's decisions now could have significant implications for the Yankees' playoff aspirations.
As the Yankees navigate this challenging stretch, the focus remains on maintaining their lead in the AL East and ensuring their rotation is primed for success. With the flexibility Boone has at his disposal and the potential for Stroman to rebound, the Yankees are well-positioned to tackle the immediate demands of a doubleheader and the broader challenges ahead.