Yankees’ pitching moves: Rotation gains Gil, bullpen loses Effross
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees are set to receive a boost as they head into the final stretch of the season, with right-hander Luis Gil rejoining the rotation from the injured list. Gil is slated to start the series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday.
Gil’s return follows a brief absence after being sidelined with a lower back strain on August 21. As part of his recovery, the Yankees’ rookie pitcher made a rehab start with Double-A Somerset last Sunday, striking out six batters over 3 2/3 innings. Despite allowing three runs, Gil showed solid command, throwing 80 pitches—52 of which were strikes.
This outing marked Gil’s first game action since he left an August 20 start against Cleveland after three-plus innings due to back discomfort.
Manager Aaron Boone offered a tempered assessment of Gil’s rehab performance, calling it “OK.” Boone noted that while Gil’s pitches showed good movement and swing-and-miss potential, he did face a tough opening inning, requiring about 38 pitches to get through it.
Gil’s return comes at a pivotal moment for the Yankees, as they battle to secure a postseason spot. His performance against the Cubs will be closely monitored as the Yankees aim to fortify their pitching staff for the critical games ahead.
Yankees cut Effross from the roster
The New York Yankees have begun shuffling their pitching staff as they look to reintegrate key arms from the injured list back into their lineup. The first of these moves was made Thursday morning when the team optioned reliever Scott Effross to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to clear a roster spot for starter Luis Gil.
Effross recently returned to the Yankees’ bullpen after nearly two years of recovery from multiple surgeries. He underwent Tommy John surgery in late 2022, soon after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs at that year’s trade deadline, and then faced further setbacks with additional back surgery this past winter.
Effross made his major league return on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium, but his outing was rocky, allowing four hard-hit balls, including a two-run homer. He bounced back on Wednesday night, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Texas Rangers, but with remaining minor league options, he was the clear choice to be sent down.
Luis Gil will take Effross’s roster spot and is set to start Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Gil had been out of the rotation since mid-August due to a lower back strain.
These moves mark the beginning of what appears to be a broader effort by the Yankees to recalibrate their pitching staff as they make a push for the postseason in the season’s final weeks.
The New York Yankees are bracing for a series of roster decisions as they prepare to activate more pitchers from the injured list. Right-handers Clarke Schmidt and Ian Hamilton, both recovering from right lat strains, are nearing their returns. Schmidt is set to rejoin the rotation on Saturday, while Hamilton is wrapping up his rehab assignment, necessitating the removal of two pitchers from the active roster.
The situation could become even more complicated if the Yankees decide to bring back veteran reliever Lou Trivino for the season’s final stretch. Like Scott Effross, Trivino is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and was acquired at the 2022 trade deadline.
Following Effross’s demotion, the Yankees’ bullpen has few remaining options for roster moves. Relievers Jake Cousins, Ron Marinaccio, and Tim Mayza are the only arms left with minor-league options. Cousins is expected to stay put given his solid performances over the summer and potential to close games amid Clay Holmes’ recent struggles.
Marinaccio has been a frequent shuttle between the big leagues and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, while Mayza, recently called up, has stumbled out of the gate, posting a 6.48 ERA in nine appearances with the Yankees.
Phil Bickford also finds himself on the bubble. Although he hasn’t allowed a run since his latest call-up, Bickford has mostly been used in low-leverage situations and struggled in his previous stint with the club earlier this year. The Yankees could consider designating him for assignment, a move they made earlier this season that kept Bickford within the organization.
These looming decisions underscore the Yankees’ ongoing challenge of managing a fluid roster as they approach the critical final stretch of the regular season and eye potential postseason contention.
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