Yankees Insider Reveals Pitching Plan For Weekend Series
The New York Yankees are playing more for their own pride and with developing young players in mind at this point.
After losing a series with the Washington Nationals, they are 61-66 in 2023, last in the AL East and 10 games behind the third Wild Card spot.
In other words, they are a mediocre team.
Still, there are reasons to play with 100 percent effort at the moment.
Pitchers want to secure their place in the 2024 rotation or bullpen; or in some cases show that they can turn their seasons around.
Hitters are already playing with a 2024 role in mind: for example, Oswald Peraza and Everson Pereira are giving their all to show the organization they should be considered for starting gigs next year.
The same goes for pitchers, including two of the three starters New York is sending to the mound for the upcoming weekend series.
Pitching probables for the Rays series:
Tonight: Gerrit Cole
Tomorrow: Clarke Schmidt
Sunday: Carlos Rodón— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 25, 2023
Per Yankees insider Bryan Hoch, Gerrit Cole will go on Friday, Clarke Schmidt will start on Saturday, and Carlos Rodon will take the ball on Sunday.
Cole (3.03 ERA in 160.1 innings) has his 2024 spot more than assured: he is the staff ace.
Rodon will theoretically integrate into next year’s staff, too, because of the money he is owed and because he is really talented when healthy.
That hasn’t been always the case in 2023, though, and he is sporting an elevated 6.27 ERA.
He has a lot to prove in what is left of the season.
Schmidt (4.68 ERA) is definitely auditioning for a place in the rotation next year, even though he has mostly been good and his ERA is somewhat inflated by a single outing against the Atlanta Braves.
Still, all games are worth watching for Yankees fans, always with 2024 in mind.
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