The New York Yankees are shaking things up in their starting rotation, and it’s a move that could give their pitching staff a serious boost as they chase postseason glory. With Carlos Rodón, Nathan Eovaldi, and Max Fried already anchoring the rotation, manager Aaron Boone is sliding Ryan Yarbrough into a starting role, per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. The lefty, who’s been a Swiss Army knife swinging between the rotation and bullpen, is getting the nod after proving he’s more than up for the task.
Yarbrough’s been a quiet hero for the Yankees in his first season with the club. Through 24.1 innings across 10 appearances (two starts), he’s posted a solid 3.70 ERA, a 1.274 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts, with a 1-0 record. As a starter, he’s been even sharper, rocking a 3.00 ERA. Boone’s been singing his praises, saying, “Yarbs has done a great job for us. He’s pitched so well that he kind of deserves to get in there.” The decision comes after the Yankees DFA’d Carlos Carrasco and used an off day to skip Yarbrough’s turn, letting Clarke Schmidt and Fried start against the Mets on normal rest. Now, with the bullpen stretched thin, Boone’s giving Yarbrough—fresh off rest since his last outing on May 11—a chance to lock in as a starter against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.
This move is a win-win. Yarbrough’s versatility has been clutch, giving the Yankees “added protection” in the pen, as Boone noted, but his stuff screams rotation potential. His 7.40 K/9 and 2.00 K/BB ratio show he can miss bats while keeping walks in check, and his .254 BABIP suggests he’s not just getting lucky. For a rotation leaning on Rodón’s resurgence, Eovaldi’s veteran grit, and Fried’s ace-level consistency, Yarbrough’s a perfect fit—a reliable arm who can eat innings and keep games close. With Aaron Judge’s offense firing on all cylinders, that’s all the Yankees need to keep racking up wins.
Picture Yarbrough taking the mound at Yankee Stadium, painting corners and setting up Judge, Cody Bellinger, and the crew to do their thing. At 33, he’s not a flashy name, but he’s the kind of pitcher who gets the job done, and Boone’s betting on him to solidify a rotation that’s got World Series aspirations. As the Rangers roll into town, keep an eye on Yarbrough—he might just be the X-factor that keeps the Yankees rolling. For more details on his stats, check the card above.
