The New York Yankees have a solid starting rotation in J.A. Happ, Luis Severino, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, and CC Sabathia. While the five included will set the tone for the Bombers, they will receive reinforcements in the second half of the season.
Starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery underwent Tommy John surgery last May, missing the remainder of 2018 and hedging his bets on the season ahead. These days, most pitchers suffer this type of injury, returning to full health with about a year of rehab.
The Yankeed will need Montgomery in the second half:
The inevitable fatigue of pitchers usually sets in right after the All-Star break, and it will be no different for the Yanks in 2019. Montgomery will be much needed with veteran CC Sabathia featuring in the lineup – he’s sure to see various complications with his health and recent heart surgery.
Jordan stated in regard to his injury, according to ESPN:
“I’ve got four more months to get [the left elbow] as strong as I can and try to work on anything I want to: my mechanics, clean those out, get my legs stronger,” Montgomery said. “Just to get in better shape and come back a whole new pitcher is the plan.”
What should we expect for the starter?
As stated before, a lot of pitchers suffer from this injury – Happ went through the process as well, finishing 2018 7-0 with the Yankees with a 2.69 ERA. Montgomery made 29 appearances in his rookie season, winning 9 games, striking out 144 batters and earning a 3.88 ERA. That’s a solid debut for a rookie pitcher. His second season, he was 2-0 with a 3.62 ERA.
Improving upon his rookie year, despite a small sample size, provides optimism for the future. The lefty will provide immediate support upon his return – hopefully, Severino and Happ, the Yankees’ top two pitchers, can remain healthy and efficient. Severino struggled after the All-Star break due to tipped pitches, but a refinement in his technique should be able to eradicate that issue.
I would expect Montgomery to ease Sabathia’s work-load as the No. 5 starter in the rotation but act as a No. 6 man in the unit as well. Most teams don’t have a 6-man rotation, which indicates the quality/talent on the Yankees in regard to pitching.