Imminent return of starter could jump-start Yankees
The New York Yankees signed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon to a six-year, $162 million contract in the offseason. Rodon quickly acclimated himself to the Yankee way -- we jest -- by straining his forearm in his first spring training appearance and landing on the injured list.
Nearly five months and two rehab appearances later, Rodon said he's almost ready to go.
"I feel like that was pretty close to normal," Rodon said Sunday after four shutout innings for the AA Somerset Patriots. "I feel ready."
Even with a strong 2023 start from ace Gerrit Cole, starting pitching is one of the biggest questions for the Yankees.
New York's starters are 24-20 with a 4.28 ERA , with Cole (2.78 ERA) accounting for eight of those wins. With Rodon starting 2023 on the shelf and fellow starters Luis Severino and Nestor Cortes Jr. spending time of their own on the injured list, New York has had to get creative with its starting rotation.
In 11 games since his MLB debut in April, rookie Jhony Brito has shown promise but lacks consistency. Clarke Schmidt and Domingo German also got opportunities to establish themselves as key pieces of the starting staff but with mixed results.
Other than Aaron Judge, Rodon -- whose debut is projected for July 5 -- is the most important missing piece for third-place New York (43-35), which trails first-place Tampa Bay and second-place Baltimore in the American League East. (Judge has a torn ligament in his toe. There is no timetable for his return.)
If Rodon can regain his All-Star form, he and Cole could become what New York envisioned: the most feared starting duo in baseball.
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