Marcus Stroman is making his return.
After a rocky start to the season and difficulties during his rehab, he now has a chance to put those struggles behind him.
Before the Yankees’ 3-0 win in the Bronx on Friday, manager Aaron Boone mentioned that a decision hadn’t been made regarding whether Stroman or Alan Winans would take the mound. However, following the game, after observing Stroman’s bullpen session—which Stroman himself had encouraged—Boone decided to give the 34-year-old another opportunity.
Boone expressed, “I wanted to see him today; I wanted to make sure he’s ready for his bullpen session and everything.” In his last outing at Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, Stroman allowed five runs on 10 hits over 3⅔ innings.
Throughout his rehab—stemming from left knee inflammation that has been an issue since April 11—Stroman has been focused on his mechanics rather than the outcomes. The Yankees were set to face Winnans, but they retained Stroman on the active roster, allowing him to warm up while Will Warren pitched the first inning.
The 29-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut in Cincinnati earlier in the week, where he delivered three scoreless innings before giving up four runs over four innings.
Winnans has been impressive at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, sporting a 0.90 ERA over 50 innings and 11 appearances this season.
Ryan Yarborough was placed on the injured list due to a nerve issue, necessitating the roster change.
Ben Rice caught Warren’s second career start and received praise from both Warren and Boone. Boone had intended for Austin Wells to take a couple of days off, thanks to a scheduled break, but JC Escobar was absent from the team for personal reasons.
Escobar wasn’t officially on the paternity list, but Boone noted that they were prepared for Escobar’s situation and ready to call up a replacement if needed.
Lewis Gill is set to throw a live session at Double-A Somerset on Thursday, with plans for a side session over the weekend.
He is expected to pitch again next week as the Yankees evaluate whether he needs additional rehab assignments.
Jonathan Loaisiga is reportedly feeling “better,” according to Boone, and he aims to play catch before the game.
Loaisiga had left the stadium early Wednesday with an undisclosed illness, wearing a mask.
In a surprising move, Jasson Domínguez was left out of the lineup against right-hander Mitch Spence, despite having four hits the previous day.
Boone is managing a roster that includes more hitters than available spots, highlighting the competitive dynamic. “Everyone wants to be in there every day,” Boone said. “But this group really just wants to win and understands the roles that come with that.”
