Ryan Yarbrough forcing Yankees into a difficult decision

Despite spring training injuries to ace Gerrit Cole, reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt, the New York Yankees (33-20) sit with the third-best record in the major leagues. 

Their hot start can be attributed to a great showing by their starting rotation over their last 18 games. The Yankees are 14-4 with a combined record of 8-1 from their starters in that stretch. 

The Yankees have received help from an unexpected source, Ryan Yarbrough. The 33-year-old was initially used out of the bullpen, but since the beginning of May, he has made four starts for the Yankees.

In those four starts, Yarbrough has thrown a total of 20 innings, striking out 19, walking five and only allowing five earned runs to the tune of a 2.25 ERA. 

Yarbrough isn't the typical modern-day pitcher. He ranks in the first percentile in fastball velocity, averaging only 87.6 mph, according to Baseball Savant. Despite that, batters are only hitting .203 off the lefty this season. 

What's been getting batters out is a combination of his side-winding motion and pounding the strike zone. This combination was highlighted on Monday against the Los Angeles Angels, as 59 of his 88 pitches were in the zone. This attack on the strike zone resulted in six innings pitched with only one run allowed on two hits. 

Yarbrough has provided a pitching spark the Yankees needed, but also provides an interesting question. With Luis Gil set to return in the coming weeks, should the Yankees consider a six-man rotation?

Injuries play an unfortunate role in any season, and the Yankees have already dealt with their fair share of them. A six-man rotation in the Bronx would help ease the workload of all their starters and potentially prevent any injuries due to overuse. 

Max Fried and his league-leading 1.29 ERA would lead the rotation. Fifth in the league in strikeouts, Carlos Rodon would follow behind Fried. The returning Gil would slide back into the third slot, leaving Schmidt, Will Warren and Yarbrough as the remaining options. 

If the Yankees were to stick with a five-man group rather than six, Yarbrough would be the one relegated back to the bullpen.

If that were the case, Yarbrough should be used in almost an opener role, similar to how he was used during his tenure with the Rays. From 2018 to 2022, Yarbrough made 127 appearances, 59 of those being starts. 

Instead of pitching every five days, he could pitch every six, seven or eight days, pretty much whenever the rest of the rotation needs an extra day of rest. 

A six-man group would work to not only protect the Yankees arms, but it would also help ease Gil back into the rotation. Coming off a right lat strain, Gil would benefit from an extra day's rest in between starts. 

At this point, Gil is still weeks, if not a month, away from his return. Until then, the Yankees will continue to employ the formula that has been working for them lately.