The New York Yankees have the best record in the American League and the second-best standing in Major League Baseball. While their top batters like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Anthony Volpe have contributed to their success, their starting pitching rotation deserves credit.
As the team’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) pointed out, their starting pitchers have gone 16 straight games of throwing for at least five innings while giving up not more than two runs. It’s the longest streak by any MLB team since 1893.
More importantly, the Yankees won 12 of those 16 games, slightly increasing their lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East by two games. In the final game of that stretch (May 29 against the Los Angeles Angels), Luis Gil surrendered two hits and one run while striking out nine batters in eight innings.
Witnessing History.#RepBX pic.twitter.com/ob5OeUK7OI
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 30, 2024
Before that contest, Nestor Cortes allowed five hits and two earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Angels. They lost the game, 4-3, after Luke Weaver gave up two runs in 1.2 innings.
The streak ended when Carlos Rodon gave up three runs and struck out five batters in six innings during their May 30 game against the Angels.
This stretch elevated the Yankees starting pitcher’s season stats. Gil leads the group with a 1.99 ERA, while Clarke Schmidt follows at 2.52. Marcus Stroman is third at 2.76, followed by Rodon (3.09) and Cortes (3.30). Only Cortes has a losing record (3-4) among the five starters, while Gil has the best mark at 7-1.
The Yankees will close May 2024 by starting a three-game series on the road against the San Francisco Giants.
-Lance Fernandez