Warren’s Gritty Performance Against the Cubs
There were quite a few hard hits and traffic on the field during the game. However, this wasn’t Warren’s most dazzling performance, but it shone with grit.
The young right-hander managed to get through 5¹/₃ innings, surrendering only two runs. The Yankees faced off against the Cubs but ended up losing 4-1 on Sunday afternoon.
“I mentioned to him that there were a lot of challenges out there. The other team had many solid at-bats, and he didn’t have his best stuff,” manager Aaron Boone noted. “But he navigated through it, which is the upside. Even when they’re not performing their best, they can still find a way to succeed.”
This outing marked Warren’s 15th start where he allowed three runs or fewer out of 20 starts total. Interestingly, he wasn’t initially part of the rotation until injuries hit the team, particularly with Gerrit Cole and Lewis Gill’s setbacks.
While his ERA inflated to a noticeable 4.63 from multiple rough outings, it could have been worse against the potent Cubs lineup. Michael Bush took Warren deep, and he also walked Kyle Tucker, letting Seiya Suzuki’s single slip through.
Despite the Cubs getting in scoring position, Warren managed to get through the innings unscathed. He did the same in the fourth inning, even with the first two Cubs on base.
Going into the sixth, he was lifted after allowing a two-run homer to Dansby Swanson, following a tough situation with Ian Hamilton on the mound.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I had my best stuff today,” Warren said, having given up six hits, three walks, and one hit batter. “But I fought through it, and my defense was solid. Just trying to grind it out as much as possible.”
“It feels great to get through a strong team like that even when I’m not at my best. Whatever it was, I made it through 5¹/₃,” he added.
At 26, Warren believes he plays a crucial role in the rotation, even with Gill’s return on the horizon. Meanwhile, Clark Schmidt recently faced a season-ending Tommy John surgery, and Cole won’t be back this year.
The Yankees did consider adding a starting pitcher, but Warren noticeably outperformed veteran Marcus Stroman in this outing. He’s expected to continue with solid innings, having pitched 95¹/₃ innings already this year, compared to the 130¹/₃ from last season.
“It feels good, honestly. I think being around some of the veterans in this clubhouse, like [Carlos] Rodon and Max [Fried], has helped me a lot,” Warren said. “I’ve never pitched this many innings nor started a season like this, but I feel good.”
