Yankees At Crossroads With Will Warren As Gerrit Cole And Carlos Rodon Nears Return

Will Warren, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodon (Photos by Imagn Images)

Yankees At Crossroads With Will Warren As Gerrit Cole And Carlos Rodon Nears Return

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Heena Singh | Last updated May 2, 2026 1:08 PM ET

The rotation was supposed to stabilize once the big guns returned. Instead, it’s getting messy, but in a good way. The New York Yankees have a depth problem most teams would kill for, and it’s being driven by a 24-year-old who refuses to blink.

While rehab timelines for Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón inch closer to reality, Will Warren is out here turning every start into a statement. There’s no panic or overthinking, but results are stacking up at the worst (or best) possible time for decision-makers in the Bronx.

As reported by SNY, Warren addressed the looming rotation crunch with a calm, team-first mindset:

“I think we’re going to have the best staff in all of baseball when they come back. The best pitchers are going to pitch the majority of the innings, so I just got to make sure I keep going out there and doing my job.”

"I think we're going to have the best staff in all of baseball when they come back. The best pitchers are going to pitch the majority of the innings, so I just got to make sure I keep going out there and doing my job."

– Will Warren on the returns of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón pic.twitter.com/gXsEkehFv6
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 2, 2026

And he’s backing it up. Warren moved to 4-0 with a sharp 2.39 ERA through seven starts after carving up the Baltimore Orioles, nine strikeouts, just one earned run across 6.1 innings. Every outing has been steady. Two earned runs or fewer each time.

Meanwhile, Rodón is trending up after his second rehab outing, and Cole’s workload is being carefully managed post-start. The Yankees’ rotation leads MLB with a 2.70 ERA, but with two aces returning soon, tough calls are coming fast.

How Close Is Gerrit Cole to rejoining the Yankees ‘ Starting rotation?

The New York Yankees are getting closer to full strength, and Cole is right in the middle of it. The ace is lined up for another rehab outing as his long road back continues.

Per the New York Daily News, Cole is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday for High-A Hudson Valley. His last start with Double-A Somerset showed progress, but the rhythm isn’t fully back yet after missing all of 2025.

Gerrit Cole (Image Credits: Imagn)

The numbers tell a mixed story. A 4.40 ERA with flashes of sharp command, but some rust is still visible. The Yankees aren’t rushing it. If all goes smoothly, Gerrit Cole could rejoin the rotation within weeks, though early outings might come with some volatility.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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