A Rookie Returns. An Ace Nears. Is the Rotation Finally Stabilizing?

The New York Yankees finally got some good pitching news. 

Rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler made it through a bullpen session Saturday and recovered well enough to be penciled in for Tuesday night’s start in Toronto, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters before Sunday's game. It’s a quick bounce-back after the biceps soreness that forced him to be scratched on Friday night. MRI results over the All-Star break showed no structural damage, just inflammation. And now, just in time, he’s back in line.

That’s one hole patched in a rotation that has been stretched thin. 

But wait, there’s more potential good news.  

Another piece could fall into place soon as well. 

 Lefty Max Fried threw a bullpen session Sunday in Atlanta, and if all goes well, he’s expected to return Wednesday against the Blue Jays. Fried left his last start before the break with a blister on his index finger and skipped the All-Star Game as a precaution. He avoided the injured list, but the Yankees weren’t about to take any chances.

They can’t afford to.

Even with Carlos Rodon and Will Warren holding steady, the Yankees are hanging on by threads. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt are already down for the year, and Luis Gil is still working his way back from a lat injury. Boone had to run a bullpen game on Friday, and it blew up fast in a loss to the Braves. It underscored what’s been clear for weeks: they need reinforcements, internally or via trade.

Schlittler’s return is a good sign. Fried’s potential re-entry is even bigger. If Gil can come back after his next rehab start, the Yankees may actually have a strong rotation before the trade deadline. 

For now, the Yankees will take what they can get. It’s July. It’s survival mode. And they’ve got two chances this week to stabilize.