Yankees’ Will Warren Shines in Victory Over Rangers

In the first five games of his career, Clark Schmidt posted an ERA of 6.39. By comparison, after his initial six Major League games with the Braves, Max Fried recorded an ERA of 4.70. There’s something about developing a pitcher that can take a while, sometimes just a few starts, other times years. Will Warren appears to be advancing quickly in that regard.

May has been a pivotal month for the Yankees, especially concerning player development. On Tuesday, Warren showcased his potential, striking out a career-high ten batters while leading the Yankees to a 5-2 victory against the Rangers in front of 40,343 fans in the Bronx.

With this win, the Yankees improved to 28-19, reaching a season-high nine games above .500. It was also their ninth victory in the last twelve games, besting not just the Rangers but also the brother of manager Aaron Boone, Brett, who serves as their hitting coach.

Aaron Judge contributed significantly to the win, launching home run No. 16, while Ben Rice also made an impressive impact with his own 16th home run of the season, showcasing his growth with every outing.

Warren struggled last season, ending with a less-than-stellar ERA of 5.65, but he seems to be finding his rhythm. In his last three games, he demonstrated improvement, allowing only three runs across 18 innings and posting an ERA of 1.50.

During this game, Warren delivered five scoreless innings, scattering five hits and navigating a dangerous moment by striking out Sam Haggerty when the Rangers had scoring chances. He was tested, especially when he issued a walk and faced several solid hits from the Rangers, but managed to escape without giving up any runs. His final pitch of the game, a well-placed sinker, caught Marcus Semien looking, earning him a well-deserved standing ovation.

Support from his teammates was crucial that night. Ben Rice kicked off the scoring with his tenth home run, launching a ball into the second deck. Rice, who caught the game, even sparked discussions about his versatility—could he play another infield position?

In the sixth inning, the Yankees added to their lead with Anthony Volpe’s RBI single, ensuring they kept the pressure on the Rangers. By the end of the night, Judge’s home run put him just one behind Shohei Ohtani for the league lead.

The game wasn’t without its tense moments, as Ian Hamilton gave up a two-run homer to Jonah Heim in the ninth. Nonetheless, Luke Weaver stepped in to secure the save, making Warren’s performance all the more significant.