Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed Monday that Marcus Stroman is still dealing with discomfort in his left knee, suggesting the right-hander may miss more than the minimum 15 days on the injured list. Stroman began playing catch recently but has not yet progressed to mound work, and there’s no clear timetable for his return.
According to Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Boone said Stroman is “still feeling some things,” indicating his recovery is moving slower than initially expected. The 32-year-old is eligible to return in late April, but it now appears that early May is a more realistic target, if not later.
Struggles against Giants sparked IL move
Ten days ago, Marcus Stroman’s outing against the Giants unraveled quickly. He didn’t make it out of the first inning, allowing five runs before exiting with a bruised ERA and a knee that wasn’t right. The next day, the Yankees placed him on the injured list with inflammation in his left knee.
What originally looked like a short-term absence may now turn into a longer layoff as Marcus Stroman works to regain both his health and form.
Yankees’ rotation holding steady in his absence
Despite Stroman’s struggles, the Yankees have managed to keep their rotation afloat. Carlos Rodon is finally finding some consistency, Clarke Schmidt has returned to action, and Max Fried continues to anchor the staff. Even with mixed results from Carlos Carrasco and Will Warren, the group has shown enough stability that there’s no immediate pressure to rush Stroman back.
Marcus Stroman faces uphill battle to reclaim rotation spot
Stroman has pitched just 9.1 innings this season and carries a bloated 11.57 ERA. Returning to health is just the first step. With the Yankees fighting for every win in a highly competitive AL East, Stroman will need to prove he deserves a rotation spot once he’s cleared to return.
For now, his focus remains on rehabbing the knee. A return to the mound — and a shot to reclaim his place — will only come once he’s physically ready and able to contribute meaningfully.
DJ LeMahieu to begin rehab stint as Yankees monitor infield depth
While Marcus Stroman’s recovery remains uncertain, the Yankees received a more encouraging update on DJ LeMahieu. The veteran infielder is slated to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday as he works his way back from a left calf strain that kept him out to start the season.
Aaron Boone confirmed the plan Monday in Cleveland, noting that LeMahieu has been progressing steadily in Tampa. If his rehab goes as expected, LeMahieu could return by the end of April or early May — a boost to an infield that’s managed to stay afloat in his absence but could benefit from his experience and steady bat.
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