Advertisement

Marcus Stroman prepared to start Yankees' home opener, but mystery surrounds Opening Day

pete caldera, northjersey.com
·4 min read

LAKELAND, Fla. – Gerrit Cole was set for a new round of tests on arguably the AL’s most valuable elbow Thursday and being examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.

Here at Al Kaline Drive, the presumptive new Yankees Opening Day starter already declined the assignment.

Marcus Stroman said manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman approached him about the March 28 season opener at Houston, and all parties agreed the right-hander should stay on his personal schedule.

“It’s too late in the year now to try to get on track for Opening Day,’’ Stroman said following Thursday’s exhibition outing in a 7-0 loss to Detroit at TigerTown.

“I think I’m going to stay where I’m at, and I’m going to end up pitching the home opener,’’ Stroman said of the April 5 game at Yankee Stadium against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Mar 8, 2024; Dunedin, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (0) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2024; Dunedin, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (0) throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Stroman said he was completely fine with that arrangement, concerned solely about making 32-33 starts in 2024 and not about drawing the Opening Day start against the Astros.

“Being on the roster for Yankees Opening Day is enough,’’ said the Long Islander who has longed to be a Yankee. “To pitch the Yankees home opener, that’s going to be pretty exhilarating for me.

“I can’t wait for that one.’’

Stroman: Marcus Stroman gives Yankees hope this summer if he can do this one thing

A guessing game around the Yankees' Opening Day pitcher

So, does that make Nestor Cortes the Yankees’ Opening Day starter?

Boone said he’s already “decided who’s starting’’ the season opener but wants to “let a few more days go off the clock’’ before announcing it.

“There’s a lot that could happen still.’’

Would that include anyone not currently in Yankees camp?

Who replaces Gerrit Cole? Ranking Yankees' in-house starting rotation candidates

Anyway, with Stroman saying he’s due to pitch the third game of the year Carlos Rodon pitching the second game, the in-house options are down to Nestor Cortes, Clarke Schmidt and perhaps Cody Poteet, if he’s the choice to fill the rotation vacancy.

Cortes is due to pitch a live simulated game Friday, with Schmidt starting Friday night’s Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Poteet tossed four simulated innings Wednesday, and Boone praised the right-hander for his “veteran presence’’ and ability to “navigate a lot of different ways’’ due to his “pitch-ability.’’

“I definitely feel like he’s a guy who can help us.’’

Marcus Stroman's OK day at Lakeland

Stroman has made three career Opening Day starts, including last year’s assignment for the Chicago Cubs, six shutout innings to beat the Milwaukee Brewers and Corbin Burnes.

“Truly doesn’t matter to me ,’’ Stroman said of the Opening Day assignment. “Whatever’s going to help the team.’’

As for Stroman being lined up for the season’s third game, “that could change,’’ said Boone, who watched the right-hander yield four earned runs in 4.1 innings Thursday afternoon.

“Maye not quite as sharp as he’s been the last two times,’’ said Boone, referencing Stroman’s previous two scoreless exhibition starts. “But I thought overall good work.’’

Stroman felt it was “just another step’’ towards being ready to “turn it on’’ for the 2024 season.

“Arm and body feel great, just feels good to feel healthy and stable going into the season,’’ said Stroman, who yielded four hits – including a long homer by Kerry Carpenter – with three walks and four strikeouts in 68 pitches.

“Probably walked too many guys, but overall, I felt good.’’

Missing ace Gerrit Cole

FILE - New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) throws against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023, in New York. Gerrit Cole was a unanimous winner of his first American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 and Blake Snell took the NL honor in becoming the seventh hurler to earn baseball’s top pitching prize in both leagues.(AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Like everyone else in Yankees Universe, part of Stroman’s attention is fixed on Cole’s situation and how losing the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, for any period, might impact their pennant hopes.

“I feel like everybody knows losing the best pitcher in baseball is always going to hurt,’’ said Stroman. “There’s no way to get around that.’’

Late Wednesday night, the Yankees saw Dylan Cease moved from the Chicago White Sox to the San Diego Padres, in a trade package that included pitcher Drew Thorpe – a big Yankees prospect used to acquire Juan Soto.

As for the kids in the room, Stroman has liked what he’s seen of right-handers Clayton Beeter, Will Warren and Chase Hampton. “Those guys are legit,’’ and might find a way into the rotation at some point in 2024.

Plus, “I think Clarke takes a huge step forward, I think Nestor has a great year. I feel like we're really confident in the group of guys we have’’ to keep it rolling “until Gerrit gets back.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees Opening Day starter unknown, Marcus Stroman gets home opener