ESPN: The Yankees revealed a significant issue, which the front office can no longer overlook.
This season, the New York Yankees have been on a roll, but Saturday’s defeat was difficult.
Even without Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe in the lineup, they managed to score seven runs against the Red Sox.
That’s usually more than sufficient. However, Boston took full advantage of the pitching’s collapse this time, which was like wet cardboard.
The damage came quickly because Ryan Yarbrough, who has been one of the Yankees’ best arms in private, just didn’t have it.
In just four innings, he allowed eight earned runs on nine hits, which sent the Yankees reeling to a 10–7 defeat.
Even if Yarbrough’s disintegration seemed inevitable, it still hurts.
After just 67 pitches, Yarbrough’s command began to wane, and manager Aaron Boone was forced to pull him.
Yarbrough is a low-velocity pitcher, so precise control is crucial; if it falters, the game might end quickly.
That’s precisely what took place. Although Yarbrough had been exceeding expectations, this was always a possibility.
This type of outing seemed like it was lurking, waiting for the wrong opponent, despite his impressive stats.
Even the most skilled illusionists ultimately lose control of their tricks, yet he has been a magician using delicate contact.
Still, the underlying data presents an odd, optimistic image.
Yarbrough’s numbers are still subtly excellent this season in a few unexpected categories, despite Saturday’s explosion.
He is in the 99th percentile in terms of exit velocity, with opposing batters average only 84.1 mph.
Most contact is still not harmful, as seen by his 95th percentile barrel rate and 97th percentile hard-hit rate.
However, his fastball velocity of 87.5 mph places him in the first percentile, meaning that if he misses, there is no room for mistake.
Therefore, the entire house of cards might quickly collapse if the instruction is even slightly off.
He won’t be destroyed by one bad start, but it changes the subject.
After providing the Yankees with some much-needed innings early in the season, Yarbrough has earned the benefit of the doubt.
The belief that he is a reliable starter may have just been severely damaged, but he will probably receive another chance.
You can see the urgency seeping into the front office’s thoughts, even though Boone won’t say it out loud.
The Yankees are aware that there are too many unknowns in this rotation for them to continue riding it the way it is now constructed.
The deadline is drawing near quickly, and the rotation is still precarious.
Although Luis Gil’s recovery from a lat strain is encouraging, stability and ace-level domination are not certain.
Will Warren has glimpses but hasn’t perfected his rhythm, and Clarke Schmidt has wavered between promising and inconsistent.
Brian Cashman has a clear goal going into the July trade deadline now that Yarbrough has joined that list of unpredictability.
Every fifth day, they need someone with experience and durability who can put in five innings without endangering the game.
Despite its bravery, this rotation isn’t meant to endure until October, so expect Cashman to be aggressive.
