The Yankees had been struggling for nearly two weeks, but that all changed on Sunday. Max Fried couldn’t manage to pitch deep into the game, and Lewis Gill, Carlos Rodon, and Cam Schlittler also fell short, failing to complete six innings in their recent starts.
Then came Will Warren, who at just 26 years old, made a notable impact in what’s been his first full season in the majors. He didn’t concede a hit until the third inning and impressively retired 17 of the first 18 batters he faced. Wrapping up his performance with 6²/₃ innings pitched on just 85 pitches, he allowed two solo home runs but didn’t issue any walks, making him the first Yankees starter to record at least 18 outs since July 30th.
Some may have questioned whether Warren truly fit into the Yankees’ rotation long-term. But in his last four starts, marked by a solid 1.93 ERA, he’s shown a consistency that has eased those doubts.
“He’s gained a lot of confidence from last year’s experience. He’s gotten a taste of success this year,” said manager Aaron Boone. “I think he realizes he can take on really good hitters, and his expectations have grown.”
Even when Warren found himself trailing 3-0 in innings, he worked to strike out every batter from Minnesota. His mix of pitches—a four-seam fastball, sinker, and off-speed offerings—kept opposing hitters off balance, leading to five consecutive outs. Although he did allow solo home runs to Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach, Larnach also struggled in his seventh inning at-bat, notching his first two outs.
Warren had walked four batters in a previous start, so he was careful to avoid similar pitfalls. This outing marked the first time in his career he pitched over six innings while allowing fewer than three hits.
“We take pride in our performances as starters, aiming for six or more every time,” Warren remarked. “It hasn’t always been that way.”
This game represented a turning point for him. Warren has consistently allowed three runs or fewer in 19 of his 25 starts this season. He’s now one of only five Yankees rookies to start 25 games since 1974.
Most importantly, he’s put to rest any uncertainty regarding his placement in the rotation; he’s becoming one of their key assets.
