The rhythms of a baseball season are often unpredictable, and on Tuesday night, the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels were reminded of this when a rainout in the Bronx forced both teams to rethink their starting rotations.
This unexpected pause came on the heels of a scheduled day off for the Yankees on Monday, giving them two days without baseball. With the skies putting a temporary halt to their plans, Yankees manager Aaron Boone had to make strategic adjustments, chief among them deciding to skip Marcus Stroman's scheduled start.
Stroman, who had last taken the mound on Friday, was rescheduled to pitch again on Sunday, August 11. This change means that Stroman will step onto the field with eight days of rest, a notable departure from the usual rotation. Boone explained his decision, stating, "I just felt like there'd be some benefit in Stro having a couple of bullpens to work through some things."
With a doubleheader slotted for Wednesday, Boone found a silver lining in the extra rest for his rotation. The Yankees' manager has the flexibility to deploy Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Ródon, and Gerrit Cole, and strategically plot how to navigate the two games. "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 added, providing some reassurance about Stroman's condition.
In the second game on Wednesday, Will Warren will take the ball, allowing Boone to keep his rotation aligned for the pivotal days ahead. This strategic maneuvering is especially critical as the Yankees defend their position at the top of the AL East, currently holding a 67-46 record with a half-game lead.
Stroman’s recent performance has been a tale of two halves. Over his first 14 starts, he showcased his prowess, boasting a 6-2 record with an impressive 2.82 ERA. However, the subsequent eight starts have posed challenges, with Stroman managing a single win against four losses, and his ERA ballooning to 6.87. His less effective outings included a game against Boston, where he allowed five runs on nine hits in just 3 1/3 innings, and a rough stint against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up seven runs on eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.
An in-depth look at Stroman’s recent struggles reveals a dip in his fourseam fastball velocity, averaging 88.8 miles per hour compared to his season average of 89.8 mph. This slight decrease could be contributing to his less dominant presence on the mound. But with Boone's decision to give Stoman extra rest and bullpen sessions, there's hope that he can regain his earlier form.
The coming games will test the Yankees' resilience and strategic planning, especially given the condensed schedule with the doubleheader. How Boone and his pitching staff handle this stretch could have significant implications for their standing in the highly competitive AL East. For now, all eyes will be on Stroman when he returns to the mound, hoping to reverse his recent fortunes and help propel the Yankees towards their post-season aspirations.