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If Marcus Stroman’s performance on Sunday, August 11 against the Texas Rangers is any indication, he’s chosen a great time to regain his form with the New York Yankees.
Despite pitching only five innings, Stroman delivered his best showing since June, limiting the Rangers to 1 run on 4 hits. This contrasts sharply with his previous eight starts, during which he posted a 6.87 ERA, allowed 13 more hits than innings pitched, and opponents hit .325 against him.
With Clarke Schmidt set to return and strengthen the Yankees’ rotation, Stroman has made a strong case to remain in the rotation.
“I don’t lose confidence based on a few outings,” Stroman said after the game, according to The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty. “My confidence remains steady regardless of what I’m going through. I approach each start with the same confidence. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t.”
This time, it worked out, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided some insight into why.
“He stayed away from the middle of the plate much more,” Boone said, as reported by MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. “I thought his stuff was sharp. I probably pushed him a bit longer today because he hasn’t pitched at that level for a while. He might have been a bit tired when he went back out for the sixth. But he avoided dangerous zones and kept the ball down.”
Stroman threw 89 pitches in total, with 52 strikes. His ground ball rate of 56.3% was his highest since June 11, and his fly ball rate of 12.5% was the lowest since April 10.
Aaron Boone Thought Marcus Stroman Was ‘Crisper’ With His Pitches
Stroman maintained his confidence despite his recent struggles, focusing on refining his mechanics during his off days. As Boone noted, the adjustments started with his legs.
“Everything starts from the ground up athletically, and I think he might have been a bit disconnected from his legs,” Boone said, according to Ladson. “It’s something he’s worked on during a few bullpens. Hopefully, this translates into sharper stuff overall.”
The numbers support this improvement. Stroman’s fastball velocity was the highest it’s been since May, averaging 90.3 mph, according to FanGraphs. His secondary pitches also showed more movement than they have in the past two months. While he didn’t get as many swings and misses as usual, the Rangers swung at fewer pitches overall and in the zone compared to recent opponents.
Stroman also credited his catcher, Austin Wells, for helping him regain his command.
“I felt [Wells] did a great job mixing pitches,” Stroman said. “I felt confident, making good pitches when I needed to, and getting back into my groove. It was definitely good to get the win.”
The Yankees extended Stroman’s rest to nine days instead of the usual five before his start on Sunday, allowing him additional time to address mechanical issues the team had identified.
“He just seemed to feel better,” Boone said, according to Kuty. “He often talks about being in tune with his mechanics, and I think the extra days, coupled with focused work, helped him fine-tune things and perform better.”
The State of the Yankees Rotation
With Clarke Schmidt’s return imminent, the Yankees will have six capable starting pitchers for the final month of the season. However, having depth doesn’t always guarantee quality.
Since June 15, Yankees starters have posted the worst ERA in baseball (6.00). Stroman, who is hoping to have turned things around, is part of the issue. Gerrit Cole has also struggled, but recent performances offer some optimism. Over his last two starts against Toronto and Texas, Cole has pitched 11 innings, allowing 3 earned runs, with 14 strikeouts and 2 walks, reducing his ERA from 5.40 to 4.70.
Luis Gil appears to have rebounded from his mid-season slump, with a 1.93 ERA over his last five starts. However, he’s exceeded his career high in innings pitched, so the Yankees might manage his workload carefully moving forward.
Carlos Rodon is also showing signs of improvement after a tough midseason. He’s allowed just 6 runs in his last 4 starts and has struck out 31 batters in 24.1 innings.
Nestor Cortes, on the other hand, is still struggling. He has a 9.26 ERA over his last five starts, and his recent six-run performance against the Angels hasn’t inspired much confidence. He’ll need to make a strong case by the end of the month to secure his spot in the rotation.