The Yankees have solved the problem of one turnover in first down

The Yankees have already suffered two major hits as a starter, with Frankie Montas expected to miss most of the 2023 season and Carlos Rodon starting on the injured list. Montas had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder to correct a problem that was lingering, but Rodon suffered a left forearm strain that could have been much worse.

Completing two starting pitchers before the regular season begins is undoubtedly not what the Yankees were hoping for. Fortunately, they had two back-round options vying for a complementary role. Clark Schmidt and Domingo German were in the thick of a positioning battle, but the latter seemed to have overlooked the opportunity.

Yankees are confident in German Domingo:

The German, 30, pitched 72.1 innings last year for the Yankees. He hosted a 3.61 ERA, 4.33 xFIP, 7.22 strikeouts per nine, and 78.5% on average. The German pitched 143 innings in 2019 when he had 18 wins, posted a 4.03 ERA and nearly 10 strikeouts in every nine. The German looks to replicate those numbers by aggressively pitching, attacking the strike zone, and forcing opposing hitters to make critical moves.

“That’s been a staple of the successful campaign I’ve had for a few years,” German said through a translator of his 18-win campaign in 2019. “I’ve felt like I’ve been doing it at a good pace this year so far in camp. So really I’m looking forward to being aggressive.” in the region and does not waste time there.”

In the New York Post.

This spring, the German has been anything but solid, hosting a 3.52 ERA across three games and 7.2 innings pitched. He struck out 10 batters in that time frame, hosting a 0.78 WHIP and showing the consistency the Yankees needed in the rotation.

“Attacking, but also, he’s a good hitting thrower,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So attack it but attack it with the best of your ability. Don’t hold back on anything. That’s what was good to see. Crispness and sharpness were always better. It was good to see.”

Schmidt may stand a chance to fill in at the back end of the rotation, though he lost the battle for the position to the German. With Rodon losing time, Schmidt may have to make a few starts to help supplement his loss, with manager Aaron Boone believing he could return in April as the best-case scenario.

However, seeing Germany perform well was exactly what the Yankees needed to feel comfortable in the starting rotation. Montas likely won’t have much of an impact next season, so while General Manager Brian Cashman may go out and get another rookie to help strengthen the unit, they seem confident Domingo can get the job done.