Yankees Pitching Is In Hell After Another Awful Start From Marcus Stroman

Marcus Stroman's start last night for the New York Yankees was a challenging one. The game against the San Francisco Giants was called after five and a half innings due to inclement weather, with the Giants leading 9–1. Stroman faced significant difficulties early in the game, allowing five runs before recording a single out. His struggles included issuing multiple walks and surrendering a three-run homer to Jung Hoo Lee. After throwing just 46 pitches, Stroman was removed from the game and later underwent X-rays on his left knee, raising concerns about a potential injury.

The Yankees' pitching staff continued to struggle after Stroman's departure, combining for eight walks and allowing four additional runs. Offensively, the Yankees were limited to two hits, with Austin Wells contributing an RBI double. This loss marked their fourth in five games, highlighting ongoing challenges in both pitching and offense.

Stroman's performance and health will be closely monitored in the coming days, especially with Clarke Schmidt expected to rejoin the rotation soon. The Yankees may need to make adjustments depending on Stroman's condition. ​

Stroman has been nothing short of disastrous through his first three starts. His ERA sits at an unsightly 11.57, and he didn’t even make it out of the first inning on Friday before getting yanked and sent for testing on his left knee. That outing might have been the breaking point, both physically and figuratively.

Stroman’s 2026 player option kicks in if he hits 140 innings this year, which gives the Yankees every reason to not let him anywhere near that mark. His velocity is down, his command is off, and whatever version of Stroman they were hoping to get just doesn’t exist right now.

Thankfully, Clarke Schmidt is expected back within the next few days. He threw four scoreless innings in his second rehab outing and looks sharp enough to slide right back into the No. 3 role.

The Yankees desperately need him — not just to stop the bleeding, but to restore some balance. Schmidt posted a 2.85 ERA last season over 85.1 innings with nearly 10 strikeouts per nine, an 80% strand rate, and a healthy ground ball profile. He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable — and that’s everything right now.

Luis Gil has also started a throwing program, but he’s still months away from returning. In the meantime, every start becomes a tightrope act.

If Stroman hits the injured list, the Yankees may be able to delay a decision on sending Will Warren back down or cutting Carrasco. But there’s no escaping the reality — this rotation needs serious help, and even Matt Blake can only do so much.