Jameson Taillon is fine, but he will not pitch until the Yankees’ sixth game of the season, on April 7.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed Sunday that after Gerrit Cole starts Thursday’s season opener, Corey Kluber and Domingo German will follow for the weekend games against Toronto. Jordan Montgomery will get his first turn April 5 in the opener of a three-game set against Baltimore, and Boone will turn to Cole on full rest April 6 before Taillon makes his Yankees debut in that series finale April 7.
“With Jamo, we feel like he’s in such a good spot physically. With the off-days we have in April, we just want to be mindful of building these guys up properly, so we’re going to slow play him,” Boone said. “We feel like a sixth starter is going to factor in at least once in the month of April. By doing it this way, we’ll keep our guys as much as possible on that fifth day and sixth day.”
Taillon, who was told of the plan earlier this month, is on “totally” on board.
“We’ve discussed not putting a hard innings limit on me, but at the same time, it comes with the understanding that early in the year, let’s get creative and see if there’s a way to save some bullets,” Taillon said. “Ease into the year, ease into cold weather, ease into competition. I’m excited for whenever my name is called.”
Taillon is coming back after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, and last pitched on May 1, 2019. Kluber, who started Sunday’s game, pitched just one inning last year after missing a good chunk of 2019, and German, who makes his final tune-up Monday, was suspended in September 2019 and missed all of last season.
So far so good for all three, says Boone.
“I’m really excited about them,” Boone said. “I feel like their stuff has been good. I feel like their recovery and bounce-back has been strong. We’ve obviously got a long way to go, but as we enter the season, I feel like we’re in a good spot.”
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