When Luis Gil and Jordan Montgomery take the mound for today’s doubleheader games against Boston, the two will both be coming off longer than usual layoffs, but in completely different spots.
Gil, the 27th man for the doubleheader, has not pitched since last Sunday, and will take the nightcap knowing this may be his final MLB start for a while now that the Yankees’ rotation is almost whole again. The righty made his MLB debut two weeks ago as a COVID replacement when Gerrit Cole, who returned Monday, went on the COVID IL, and in two starts, he has thrown 11 scoreless innings and struck out 14.
Those outings came against Baltimore and Seattle, and he’ll face a much tougher game against a Red Sox team trying to stay ahead of the Yankees in the playoff race – a pressure-cooker for sure, but Gil feels he’s up to the task.
“I feel really good. I worked real hard and prepared hard to get here, and I feel relaxed going into the game,” Gil said Monday. “I’m looking forward to being part of this this rivalry. It’s a dream come true to face Boston at Yankee Stadium. As a team, working together, we’re looking forward to getting a series win.”
As for Montgomery, his layoff is 16 days total, as he last pitched on August 1 in Miami before also going on the COVID IL – and when he toes the rubber at 1 p.m., he’ll be coming back refreshed.
“I feel incredible. I got some good drill work in throwing against the wall, and I was trying to do the best I could with the time I had, and get as ready as I could for when I came back,” Montgomery said.
During his shutdown, Montgomery said his symptoms were mild – “I felt like I had a cold, and it definitely could’ve been worse, so I’m thankful for that,” he said – and when he was feeling up to it, he indeed made friends with a wall to keep his arm sharp.
“I found a wall and threw into it, and then once Gerrit started feeling better, I drove out and threw with him for a few days,” Monty said. “Just tried to do something so I didn’t lose my mind in my room. I never really felt bad. Knowing I had to do a close contact test and then waking up the next morning hearing I was positive…it is what it is, I had to make the best of it and stay ready mentally.”
Montgomery had pitched 114 2/3 innings over 21 starts prior to his shutdown, quite a jump for a pitcher who had thrown 75 over the past three years due to injuries and the shortened season. Perhaps a silver lining, though, in the lefty’s mind, is that missing two starts will help him bounce back for the 10 or so he has left this season.
“I feel good, just kind of treating it as two starts I can save for the postseason instead, he said. “I was throwing the ball well, just a little fresher in the arm. No reason I can’t keep the train rolling I have a little less wear on me now with 10 days of rest. I’m ready to go right back into the fire.”
The Yankees sure could use it today from both, as a doubleheader sweep would leave them 68-52 and the Red Sox 69-53 – meaning that, pending the results of the A’s-White Sox game Tuesday night, the Yankees could be in a virtual tie (or even a three-way tie) for the AL’s Wild Card spot(s), with a chance to move ahead of Boston if they could complete a series sweep on Wednesday.
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