NEW YORK – The Yankees’ rotation has faced challenges this early spring due to injuries and poor performance, except for lefty Max Fried who signed for $218 million. On Saturday, Marcus Stroman was placed on the 15-day injured list due to left knee inflammation following a rough outing the night before. Allan Winans was called up from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Stroman on the active roster.
Clarke Schmidt, dealing with shoulder fatigue, is eager to rejoin the Yankees’ rotation after a successful minor league rehab start. However, the team had not finalized any plans as of Saturday morning. Stroman’s injury adds him to the list of Yankees starters on the IL, with a collective ERA of 5.46 in 13 games, except for Fried’s impressive 1.56 ERA in three starts.
Stroman struggled in his recent start against the Giants, allowing five runs in less than an inning before the game was shortened due to rain. It remains unclear if the cold and rainy conditions contributed to Stroman’s knee issue, which was reported after he left the game. He consulted with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad before the next game.
Stroman now joins Schmidt, Luis Gil, and Gerrit Cole on the list of Yankees’ starters on the IL since spring training. In addition, top prospect Chase Hampton underwent elbow surgery in February, leaving the team with limited rotation options. The Yankees were initially considering trading Stroman before the injury, but his contract terms made it challenging.
Veteran pitcher Allan Winans, previously with the Atlanta Braves, was called up to fill in for Stroman. Schmidt expressed his readiness to return to the rotation after a positive rehab stint. Despite setbacks related to back issues and shoulder fatigue, Schmidt is optimistic about his progress and performance.
“I want to be out there competing alongside my teammates,” Schmidt expressed. His aim is to maintain a high level of play consistently and become a reliable figure for his team. He emphasized feeling a sense of urgency to assist the struggling staff, regardless of the overall performance. “I’m eager to get back out there,” he added. This update was first published on NorthJersey.com regarding Marcus Stroman’s injury placing him on the IL for the NY Yankees.
