The Yankees could have one of the best starting rotations in baseball by August

New York Yankees, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino
Oct 3, 2018; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (40) and catcher Gary Sanchez (24) talk on the mound during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 American League wild card playoff baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees starting pitching has been phenomenal as of late, pitching 35 consecutive innings without allowing a run. The Yankees are currently nine games above .500, having won their last six straight. Finally, the Bombers are looking like the team that analysts and fans expected them to be before the season began, despite the fact that their offense continues to struggle.

During this six-game-winning stretch, the Yankees have scored 25 runs, a number they would tally in three games last year at times. However, the pitching has been so good, they barely had to score more than two runs per game to extract wins, which is a mind-blowing statistic. During this win streak, the Yankees have recorded three shutouts, a no-hitter, and a one-run game.

General manager Brian Cashman has truly turned a weakness in the starting rotation into a strength in one off-season, so let’s take a look at what it could look like in August with a key player returning from injury.

The Yankees’ starting pitching rotation could be insane in August:

1.) Gerrit Cole

Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole has lived up to expectations this year, currently hosting a 1.81 ERA, with 12.80 strikeouts per nine. He has the best FIP of his career at 1.73 and is walking just 1.11 batters per nine, an absolutely insane rate.

Cole has established himself as the number one pitcher on the Yankees by a long shot, and if not for the Yankees’ offense playing inadequate baseball at times, he would have eight wins on the season but currently has two losses. Come the postseason, Cole’s influence will be essential, and he’s playing some of the best ball of his life.

2.) Corey Kluber

Cashman took a big chance on Corey Kluber, who hadn’t pitched in nearly two years and was recovering from a bevy of injuries. Nonetheless, Kluber recorded a no-hitter last Wednesday, the first of his entire career and the last since 1999 for the Yankees. He currently holds a 2.86 ERA and has firmly cemented himself as the number two behind Cole. The Yankees have been desperately seeking a solid one-two punch in the starting rotation, and they finally found their answer.

3.) Jameson Taillon

While Jameson Taillon has struggled to get things going this season, his last performance against Chicago to close out the series was adequate. He lasted 5.0 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four batters over 80 pitches. While he does host a 5.06 ERA, he’s taking a bit longer to return to form compared to Kluber, but I believe he’s well on his way.

4.) Jordan Montgomery

Jordan Montgomery adds a bit of diversity with his lefty arm to the rotation, as he features a 4.07 ERA this season. He has struggled at times but has performed well lately, right in line with the rest of the starters. Utilizing his fastball less this year compared to any other season in this career, he has started to dabble with a cutter more frequently, which has eaten into his FB usage.

5.) Domingo German

German started off the season a bit rocky but has lowered his ERA to 3.05 and is walking just 1.62 batters per nine. He has a career-high left on-base percentage, meaning he’s working his way out of trouble adequately. German needed a bit of time to adapt to live action at the MLB level, but he’s well on his way to cementing himself as a regular starter.

6.) Luis Severino

Arguably the most exciting part of the Yankees rotation is that it can get even better with the return of Luis Severino. Severino underwent Tommy John surgery last spring, but he’s preparing to make a return late this summer. If Severino can return to his former self, the Yankees could have one of the strongest starting rotations in baseball, and they are going to need it in the postseason, especially if their offense continues to struggle.