The New York Yankees have made a move to shake up their pitching staff, optioning RHP Luis Gill to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Sunday's loss in Houston.
Gil allowed six earned runs in four innings plus on Sunday, and has a 6.05 ERA in 19 1/3 innings over four starts this season – only one of which has lasted more than five innings – and just nine strikeouts against 11 walks.
He began the year in minors, as the Yankees did not need a fifth starter for the first two weeks of the season, and allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings in his only outing there. He now returns, although questions abound whether he will stay stretched out as a starter or, given the Yankees’ depth, potentially be given a look in the bullpen.
As for the MLB rotation, Yankees manager Aaron Boone has said the team is hopeful Carlos Rodon would only need three rehab starts before returning to the roster. Rodon’s third rehab start would be tentatively scheduled for May 5, and the Yankees can skip Gil’s next turn in the rotation due to Thursday’s off-day, so they wouldn’t need a fifth starter until that same day.
That could line up Rodon to return on May 10 to make that following turn, so the Yankees may only need one start as a bridge to the left-hander. The Yankees could use options on the MLB roster – Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn are both starters by trade, and one of them could be the ‘bulk’ pitcher in a potential bullpen game if they don’t start – or dip into Triple-A and give top prospect Elmer Rodriguez, who has a 1.27 ERA in four Triple-A starts, a spot start.
