The 2026 New York Yankees - Jennifer Cozzolino/NY Post design
With the 2026 MLB season up and running, the New York Yankees sit above .500 at 14-9. They are first in the AL East. The Yanks’ pitching rotation has started off very strong and could even improve more when two of their aces return to the starting lineup.
When called upon, the bullpen has done enough to preserve key series wins. This is because some of the starters have exceeded their five-inning limit.
When will Yankees’ two aces return?
Last season, Gerrit Cole underwent Tommy John Surgery, and his recovery update has been going smoothly. Right now, he is rehabbing with Double-A Somerset and expects to return possibly in May or June.
His velocity on his four-seam fastball went back up to around 95-96 mph, but more importantly, he’s felt well after pitching. His next rehab start will be either with High-A Hudson Valley or Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre sometime this week.
As for Carlos Rodon, he underwent left elbow surgery last year. He is scheduled to start his rehab this week. He will be throwing 55-60 pitches in live batting practices with Double-A Somerset before being cleared to pitch in minor league games.
With a rotation of Max Fried (2.97 ERA ), Cam Schlittler (1.95 ERA), Will Warren (2.49 ERA), Ryan Weathers (3.18 ERA), and Luis Gil (4.11 ERA), you really couldn’t ask for a better starting five. When both Cole and Rodon come back, the Yankees are going to have a tough decision on their hands. They will have to wisely figure out who to take out of the rotation.
Yankees have a “Need for Speed”
The Yankees’ 2026 season has been about being fast and furious around the basepaths. At their home opener on April 3, against the Miami Marlins, the team began the game with an American League-best 11 stolen bases in seven games. (Brewers 15 in six games for National League)
The Yankees also powerfully ran for extra bases on the night. Austin Wells aggressively tagged up from second when Ryan McMahon hit a flyball to left in the sixth inning. Wells eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Yankees ABS Challenge is Not Cooperating
Last Thursday, the Yankees blew both of their hitter challenges rather quickly in their home defeat to the Los Angeles Angels.
It has become a troubling model as the Yanks are now tied for the MLB lead in failed hitters challenges with 16. They have only won 45% of the time, suggesting the team may be overzealous in their challenges and should think twice before calling some of them.
One of those examples is Jazz Chisholm Jr. He has already wasted many opportunities, and last Thursday was a perfect example.
He went to challenge a marginal pitch with two outs and with little success. The call was upheld, and the Yankees lost the challenge.
Shortly after, Trent Grisham failed a challenge on the first pitch. That wiped out the Yankees’ last chance to use the system before batting around the whole lineup.
There’s strategy, and then there’s just dumb baseball. And this ABS system matters more than before it was implemented this season.
The Yankees need to start using logic over emotion and leverage the ABS System in their favor to bring home a World Series ring.
Not another Yankees/Red Sox drama brewing
The Yankees are in Boston for a three-game thriller at Fenway Park this week. This is their first meeting since the 2025 American League Wild Card Series.
Of course, the series wasn’t going to go off without a hitch. Last year in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Game, Cam Schlitter pitched eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts. It was a record for the young rookie in his postseason debut.
The Yankees’ incredible starter from Walpole, Massachusetts (15 miles from Boston), grew up a Red Sox fan with his family. So when his mother sent messages to congratulate him, but was also bummed out, their social media blew up.
Taking it as harassment, Schlittler is seen on social media signing autographs after the New York Knicks’ season opener. He was sticking up for his mother after her comments on his well-played game.
Now that it’s Boston’s turn. As reported by the New York Post’s Joel Sherman, Schlittler and his family have received death threats. But Schlittler is not worried about his family’s safety. He attributes it to hard-core fans with nothing better to do than cheer for their favorite sports teams.
Can’t wait for Thursday
It is projected that Schlittler (2-1, 1.95 ERA) vs. Bello (1-2, 6.75 ERA) will both start on Thursday. Let’s hope that the Red Sox fans won’t be too hard on the 25-year-old as he makes his first career start at Fenway Park.
Let’s Go Yankees!
