The Yankees vaunted trio of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, and Cam Schlittler has been the undeniable strength of the team, a reason for hope that the Bombers can make an October run despite the current state of their putrid offense.
But that trio is quickly becoming a quartet, which should make the Yanks feel even better about their chances in a playoff series.
Ryan Weathers was brilliant once again in Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays, allowing just one run in 7.1 innings to keep the Yanks in line to win in extra innings, avoiding the sweep in Toronto. Sunday marked the fifth straight start that Weathers has allowed one run or less, and in that span of five starts, the 26-year-old is pitching to an 0.95 ERA in 31.2 innings of work. Opponents are hitting just .194 off of Weathers across those five starts, as the lefty continues to cement himself as a trustworthy starter who could potentially challenge Carlos Rodon for playoff innings out of the starting rotation if Rodon's lengthy injury absence prevents him from looking his best by the end of the regular season.
Weathers has pitched at least 5.2 innings in each of his last five starts, only allowing three earned runs total in that span. He tossed seven shutout innings against the White Sox on July 30, stymying one of the best lineups in the American League. Weathers is not feasting against limp lineups. His hot streak is for real.
What is more encouraging for the Yankees is the potential of this being no fluke for Weathers. Both he and pitching coach Matt Blake have openly discussed the pivot from Weathers' four-seam fastball, shuffling his pitch usage to spectacular results. Weathers used his fastball just five times in Sunday's start, continuing a trend that began at the beginning of this recent hot streak. The reduction on his fastball usage has limited balls in the air, in turn diminishing the back-breaking home run, all while maintaining enough frequency in his strikeouts (Weathers has fanned 25 batters in the last 31.2 innings). Arguably the prized pickup of this past offseason is potentially forcing the Yanks into a difficult October decision.
Weathers has unquestionably made a legitimate case to get the ball in the playoffs, perhaps even in a game one of the ALDS if the Yankees survive the Wild Card Series and have to burn Cole, Fried, and Schlittler to do so. If he continues this trajectory for the rest of the regular season, it will be nearly impossible to keep him out of the postseason rotation.
The three-headed monster in the starting rotation has become four.
The three-headed monster in the starting rotation has become four.
