Earned runs are hard to come by if you’re facing Marcus Stroman on the bump this season.
Stroman has provided two starts for the 6-2 New York Yankees thus far and has not allowed an earned run in 12 innings pitched. These two starts have come against the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays; both were playoff teams last season.
The right-hander had been looking forward to this start for quite some time. Only a day after signing with the Yankees in January, Marcus Stroman was already getting goosebumps thinking about his first start in pinstripes at Yankee Stadium. The Long Island native has not kept his excitement under wraps this season, which makes perfect sense because he grew up as a Yankee fan. He described the start as a “Dream come true” on Wednesday before the Yankees finished their road trip in Arizona. “Definitely beyond excited to pitch in front of my family, my few family and friends I have there. To grow up in New York watching the Yankees, to be able to pitch a home opener in my career, I’m just very thankful. I’m grateful. It’s a moment that I’ll never forget.”
The Yankees like that Stroman is a player that craves the bright lights and big moments. During his first start in Yankee Stadium this season, Stroman made the most of the moment by throwing 98 pitches over six innings and logging six strikeouts against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays. This start came six days after Stroman’s excellent outing, where he threw for six innings and earned four strikeouts in a winning effort against the AL-rival Houston Astros.
“I’ve always been someone who has performed in [big] moments,” Stroman said. “I’ve always been someone who has wanted the ball. I think a lot of individuals don’t want the ball. I think a lot of individuals don’t want to be in the spotlight and want to avoid it. I’ve never been that. I work extremely hard, so at the end of the day, you want to be in pressure-filled moments.” Stroman seems to be delivering on his claims as pressure-filled moments were plentiful in front of an ecstatic crowd in the Bronx. The team would later go on to take the loss after Stroman finished his outing.
Prior to Stroman’s first start against the Astros, there was some discontent among fans regarding him not being willing to start on Opening Day in Houston due to Gerrit Cole’s absence with an elbow injury. Yankees Manager Aaron Boone did like that Stroman pitching the third game of the season meant he would be in line to start the home opener against the Blue Jays, his former team.
“It’ll be cool…I know he’s fired up for it. I know it’s something he’s looked forward to ever since he signed with us and probably going back many, many years before that. Stro’s been awesome. He’s been awesome in our room and excited to see him take the ball in The Bronx on Opening Day.”
Now that every pitcher in the Yankees’ starting rotation has pitched, it’s safe to say that Stroman has turned in the best outing(s) so far.
Marcus Stroman 2024 Statistics (as of 4/5/24): 1-0, 12 IP, 7 Hits, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K, 0.83 WHIP
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