The New York Yankees began the season with their rotation in shambles, missing Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil at crucial moments.
Cole, the ace and reigning Cy Young winner, has been sidelined all year with elbow surgery that also threatens part of 2026.
Gil, meanwhile, missed months with a serious lat strain before rejoining the team in the summer, slowly regaining his rhythm.
The rotation also lost Clarke Schmidt, first to a spring training shoulder issue, then to Tommy John surgery during the season, putting his 2026 in jeopardy.
Because of those crushing setbacks, the Yankees had to patch holes with veterans like Carlos Carrasco, Allan Winans, and Marcus Stroman, which didn’t turn out to be a viable solution.
But somehow, against all odds, the organization has managed to develop and put together baseball’s best rotation since the start of August, anchoring a pivotal playoff push.
A statistical turnaround that defines resilience
Since August 1, Yankees starters own a dazzling 3.14 ERA, the lowest mark in the majors during that stretch.
Yankees starters have a 3.14 ERA since the August 1st, which leads MLB.
— Yankeesource (@YankeeSource) September 3, 2025
Across the season, the group ranks fourth in ERA (3.68), seventh in WAR, and fifth in expected ERA, per analyst Ryan Garcia.
The Yankees’ rotation is 4th in ERA, 7th in WAR, and 5th in xERA on the season.
Losing Gerrit Cole in Spring and Clarke Schmidt mid-season should have been a death sentence for the starting five. https://t.co/CmujgquCDA
— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarciaESM) September 3, 2025
These numbers would be even better with Cole healthy, but achieving them without him underscores just how special this run is.
Every rotation needs leaders, and the Yankees have leaned heavily on their two pricey left-handers, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón.
Fried has been every bit the ace they envisioned, going 15–5 with a 2.98 ERA, rarely allowing games to spiral.
Rodón, despite occasional inconsistency, has delivered a 15–7 record with a 3.18 ERA, proving reliable when the Yankees need him.
Breakouts fueling the resurgence
Luis Gil has finally found stability post-injury, his 3.68 ERA suggesting real progress after early-season bumps adjusting to command.
Meanwhile, rookies Will Warren and Cam Schlittler have transformed into unexpected standouts, giving the rotation both depth and electricity.
Warren has struck out 149 batters in 136 innings, showing his lively arsenal plays against elite competition over extended stretches.
Schlittler, even more remarkably, boasts a 2.61 ERA, instantly giving the Yankees a young, composed arm ready for October intensity.
Behind them, swingman Ryan Yarbrough has chipped in with a 3.90 ERA, thriving in both rotation and bullpen hybrid assignments.
Paul Blackburn has also contributed valuable innings, proving the Yankees’ depth extends beyond the front-line names dominating headlines.
The farm system pipeline strengthens the outlook
The Yankees have more than just this year’s staff to lean on, with reinforcements rising quickly through the minors.
Brendan Beck continues sharpening his arsenal in Triple-A after shining in Somerset. Meanwhile, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, Ben Hess, and Carlos Lagrange all show promise at Double-A, forming the next wave of arms.
Rodriguez-Cruz in particular has scouts buzzing, potentially positioning himself as a future key piece of the Bronx rotation.
It’s the kind of depth championship teams are built on, ensuring the Yankees won’t lack options in coming seasons.
A rotation that has shifted the Yankees’ fate
The current run has carried the Yankees to a 15–5 record across their last 20 games, momentum impossible to ignore.
For a staff missing Cole and Schmidt, it feels almost surreal — like building a skyscraper while missing two foundation beams.
Yet this group, led by Fried, Rodón, and the youth infusion, has kept the structure not only upright but soaring higher.
When Cole returns and if Schmidt finds health again, the Yankees’ staff could become an even more overwhelming force next year.
For now, they’ve already proven something equally valuable: resilience can be as powerful as raw talent in shaping a contender.
READ MORE: Yankees’ $218 million investment is finally back to Ace status