Tampa – Add another quirk to the quirky Yankees rotation. Without their first starter, their second starter probably wouldn't move forward in order.
Max Fried, who signed a $218 million deal this offseason, is probably not the Yankees' first day starter.
Freed is scheduled to start on Thursday, and will likely start again with Grapefruitreug.
Boone did not reveal the identity of the first day's starter – he hopes to make an announcement soon – but the process of elimination suggests that Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman are likely to become candidates.
Clark Schmidt, who didn't make his spring debut until Tuesday due to back issues, is a little late and lined up to start his sixth game of the season.
Fifth starter candidates Carlos Carrasco (started Sunday) or Will Warren (Monday) can stretch the day he throws a bit and tinker with a bit of tinkering for use in the opener, but it's a surprise to start the season with the backend arm.
After a two-time start to spring, Rodon recently practiced live batting on Sunday. Stroman starts on Friday and throws every five days – almost no guarantee for extra rest days in spring – he is tailored to Game 1.
Boone said he wouldn't hesitate to use two left-handed people, Rodon and Fried, in a row.
“They go about it very differently,” Boone said from Steinbrenner Field. “…Maybe I'd tend to split them up if they're very similar. But there's a good chance you can see them back to back.”
To my surprise, the Yankees have optional Outfielder/DH Everson Pereira to Triple A Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
Pereira was a major internal candidate to be on the right side of the DH platoon. Giantarlo Stanton is injured, and the Yankees lack the right bats to see the scene.
They are left-handed and have better stock, where non-roster invitees Dominic Smith, J.C. Escala and Ben Rice compete.
Perhaps the Yankees will trust left-handers against their opponents.
They were also able to spin Judge Aaron, Paul Goldschmidt and others on the spot.
Pereira, a 23-year-old prospect, has a strong spring at the plate (7-20 with a pair of home runs), but has yet to play the field while recovering from Tommy John's surgery in June.
Also cut from camp was the Spencer Jones' top, who went 22-6 (.273) with two Homer and steel in Grapefruitreug.
In the first game of the exhibition season, Schmidt allowed three runs (all three home runs from Ryan Mount Castle) with four hits in one inning.
The outcome wasn't a problem, Schmidt said that the dinger came out of the sinker he was messing around with. He aimed the pitch in the middle, and it actually went down the middle.
Schmidt was encouraged by his 38-pitch effort.
“I feel really good and I'm happy with the things,” he said.
