Marcus Stroman said this spring he was a starter. On Friday night, Yankees fans were left questioning whether he should be on the mound at all.
In a 9-1 loss to the Giants, Stroman allowed five runs without recording an out. Aaron Boone pulled him in the first inning as boos rained down from the Yankee Stadium crowd. After the game, Boone revealed Stroman is dealing with discomfort in his left knee and is undergoing further testing at a local hospital.
Yankees’ Marcus Stroman booed off the mound after nightmare first inning vs. Giants
It all began with the very first pitch — a leadoff double by Mike Yastrzemski. Then came a walk to Willy Adames. Just a few pitches later, Jung Hoo Lee crushed a three-run homer into the right-field seats, giving the Giants a quick 3–0 lead and prompting groans from a cold, frustrated Bronx crowd.
And it didn’t stop there.
Stroman issued two more walks, then gave up a two-run single to LaMonte Wade Jr. He finally recorded an out — striking out Wilmer Flores — but by then, the damage was done. After a flyout and a single by Tyler Fitzgerald, Boone made the call to the bullpen. Stroman’s night ended with just 36 pitches thrown, one out recorded, and five earned runs charged to his name.
This wasn’t just another bad start — it was the latest chapter in what’s becoming a concerning early-season trend for Stroman. He entered Friday’s game having allowed seven earned runs across 8.2 innings in his first two starts. Friday’s collapse pushed his ERA even higher and further intensified questions about his place in the rotation, especially with Clarke Schmidt nearing a return.
Stroman’s early season has been under scrutiny since spring training, when he arrived to camp late and declared to reporters that he was a starter — despite not being guaranteed a spot in the Yankees’ rotation. That confidence has now collided with a rocky reality.
And as expected, Yankees fans did not hold back.
Social media quickly lit up with frustration, sarcasm, and calls for change:
“I’m not even kidding when I say that I could pitch like Stroman right now and I’m much cheaper,” one fan wrote.
Another quoted Stroman’s spring comments: “I’m a starter. I won’t pitch in the bullpen. I’m a starter.” Then added, “I’m not even sure this dude should pitch at all…”
“Because he sucks, that’s how,” posted @bhauff_549.
“Why are you acting surprised that he sucks?” asked @SteveZim16.
“Meatballs on meatballs on meatballs,” added @DJ_DoesSports.
@hereforalerts compared him to another pitcher on the same rainy night: “Guys [it’s] pouring too, but now watching Ray pitch in the same condition I’m like yeah Stroman is trash lmao.”
And @TwinsAlmanac delivered the throwback dig: “The Brad Radke of his generation.”
The frustration is clear — and so is the pressure building on Stroman.
With Schmidt’s return on the horizon, Boone and the Yankees may soon be forced to make tough decisions about the back end of their rotation. Whether Stroman gets another chance in his next turn or the team decides to shuffle roles, Friday night felt like a tipping point.
Stroman came to the Bronx with swagger, experience, and the belief that he could anchor this rotation. But for now, the only thing he’s anchoring is a wave of fan disappointment — and a five-run deficit before the first out.
