Yankees Starting Rotation Makes MLB History, Even Without Gerrit Cole
The New York Yankees have had Major League Baseball’s best starting rotation in 2024, and one of the best rotations in the team’s storied history — and they’ve been doing it without their ace, Gerrit Cole.
The Yankees entered Wednesday’s game with a combined rotation ERA of 2.73, which would be the best in franchise history since 1917. Yankees starters have also had 15 consecutive starts of five or more innings while allowing two or fewer runs, which is an MLB record since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893, per MLB researcher Sarah Langs.
Yankees SP have gone 5+ innings and allowed 2 runs or fewer in 15 consecutive games, the longest such streak since mound moved to current its dist (1893)
!!!
h/t @EliasSports
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 29, 2024
This streak began back on May 12, when Luis Gil threw six shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Here’s how the entire Yankees rotation has fared during this streak:
New York Yankees/Getty Images
May 12: Luis Gil — 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
May 14: Carlos Rodón — 6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
May 15: Marcus Stroman — 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
May 16: Clarke Schmidt — 8 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
May 17: Nestor Cortes — 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
May 18: Luis Gil — 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 14 K
May 19: Carlos Rodón — 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
May 20: Marcus Stroman — 7.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
May 21: Clarke Schmidt — 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
May 22: Nestor Cortes — 5 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
May 23: Luis GIl — 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
May 24: Carlos Rodón — 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
May 25: Marcus Stroman — 6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
May 26: Clarke Schmidt — 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
May 28: Nestor Cortes — 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Yankees starters have gone 11-2 with a 0.99 ERA during this time, which is by far the best in MLB. The Yankees as a team have gone 11-4, and have taken a 1.5-game lead in the American League East.
More news: MLB Power Rankings: Yankees Rise, Dodgers and Rangers Plummet in Another Wild Week
The Yankees doing this is impressive in and of itself, but them doing it without their ace is almost unbelievable.
Cole, who hasn’t pitched this season due to elbow inflammation, is nearing a return to the Yankees. The reigning American League Cy Young award winner threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session last week, and could return sometime in June.
When Cole returns, the Yankees will be adding arguably the best pitcher in baseball to the best rotation in baseball, and will have six starters capable of playing at an All-Star level.
Entering Wednesday, Gil has a 2.11 ERA, Schmidt has a 2.52 ERA, Stroman has a 2.76 ERA, Rodón has a 2.95 ERA, and Cortes has a 3.30 ERA. Cole, a six-time All-Star, had a 2.63 ERA in 209 innings last season.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
