Despite the setback of losing their star pitcher Gerrit Cole to injury, the New York Yankees have demonstrated resilience in their pitching roster this season. Nevertheless, their offense has encountered difficulties, notably seen in their series against the Baltimore Orioles, where they’ve dropped two out of the first three games.
Luis Gil Has Been Stellar For The Yankees
Despite the Yankees’ inconsistent offense, they got an outstanding performance from 25-year-old pitcher Luis Gil, who filled in as a starter due to Cole’s absence. Gil has been impressive, posting a 3.19 ERA and 3.43 FIP over 31 innings, with an impressive 11.61 strikeouts per nine innings. He has maintained a 73.1% left-on-base rate and a 36.8% ground ball rate, although he aims to lower his walk rate of 5.81 batters per nine.
In Wednesday’s game, Gil shone, allowing just two hits and striking out five over 6.1 innings, throwing 58 of his 95 pitches for strikes. This performance was reminiscent of his 2021 season before undergoing Tommy John surgery. With a contract extending to 2029, Gil provides the Yankees with a high-potential, cost-effective starter.
Teammate Oswaldo Cabrera observed Gil’s focus before the game, saying, “I knew this game would be special for him because he was so serious on the bus. When I stepped on the bus and saw that guy just concentrating, in my mind, I was like, ‘Watch out.'”
Gil’s Promising Outlook
Gil’s expected ERA sits at 2.28, notably lower than his current ERA, and he ranks highly in expected batting average (.138) and hard-hit ball rate (27.9%). His pitching repertoire includes a four-seam fastball, change-up, and slider. The fastball, with an average speed of 96.5 mph, holds a .167 batting average against, a 35.8% whiff rate, and a 25.3% put-away rate, making it highly effective.
While his slider has been less effective, allowing a .267 batting average, it’s his least-used pitch. Conversely, his change-up has been outstanding, with batters hitting just .087 against it.
Gil’s improvement is a positive development for the Yankees, especially with teammates Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodon recovering from injuries. His consistent performance has been crucial, and his future contributions will be essential, particularly as the Yankees plan their rotation strategy for Cole’s return.
The Yankees are at a crossroads, debating whether to stick with a five-man rotation or expand to six, which could offer their starters more rest between outings. This choice will heavily influence the team’s strategy as they strive to improve their performance and provide better support for their pitching staff.
