On Friday, April 11, at Yankee Stadium, Marcus Stroman had one of the shortest and most difficult outings of his career. Facing the San Francisco Giants, he allowed five earned runs on four hits and three walks. He recorded only two outs and was pulled before finishing the first inning. He threw 46 pitches, but only 23 were strikes.
Rain affected the game, which ended early in the sixth inning with the Giants leading 9-1. But the weather was not the only problem. After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Stroman had been dealing with left knee pain. He had X-rays at the stadium and was scheduled for further tests.
- Marcus Stroman is on the 15-day injured list due to left knee inflammation following a 5-run, two-out outing against the Giants.
- Clarke Schmidt is expected to return this week, and Allan Winans has been called up as a temporary replacement.
- The Yankees are without four key starters, and their pitching depth is under heavy strain early in the season.
MRI Results and IL Decision
On Saturday, April 12, the Yankees placed Stroman on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation. Stroman received a cortisone shot to reduce swelling. According to Boone, the MRI showed no major damage, only swelling. The team is hopeful that his time out will be short.
So far this season, Stroman has struggled. In three starts, he has pitched 9⅓ innings and allowed 12 earned runs. His ERA is 11.57, and he has a 2.04 WHIP. He has walked seven batters and struck out seven. Opposing hitters have found success against him, and his control has been inconsistent.
This injury follows a rough end to his 2024 season, where he had a 6.27 ERA in his last 20 starts. Stroman signed a two-year, $37 million deal with the Yankees before the 2024 season. That contract includes a $16 million player option for 2026, which activates if he reaches 140 innings in 2025. That goal now seems uncertain.
Schmidt Nears Return, Winans Steps In
With Stroman sidelined, the Yankees’ rotation loses another key piece. The team is already without ace Gerrit Cole, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. Luis Gil is out with a lat strain, and Clarke Schmidt is returning from rotator cuff tendinitis.
To replace Stroman temporarily, the Yankees called up Allan Winans from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The 29-year-old right-hander has limited major league experience, mostly with the Atlanta Braves. In 40 innings with the Braves, he had a 7.20 ERA. This season in the minors, he recently pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings.
At the same time, Schmidt is close to returning. He has been rehabbing with Double-A Somerset and could start during the upcoming series against the Kansas City Royals. He may pitch on Tuesday or Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
“It definitely feels good,” Schmidt said on Saturday, speaking about his recovery. “The results, the stuff, the command—everything has been trending in the right direction.”
Before Stroman’s injury, the Yankees were facing a difficult roster decision. Rookie Will Warren had just earned his first MLB win. Veteran Carlos Carrasco, who cannot be sent to the minors without waivers, has struggled with a 7.71 ERA. The team would have had to choose between sending Warren down or risking losing Carrasco. Stroman’s IL move delays that decision but doesn’t solve the problem.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is Also Sidelined But Avoids Surgery
The Yankees’ injury concerns go beyond the pitching staff. Third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was recently traded from the Miami Marlins, injured his left elbow while diving into home plate against the White Sox on Monday, April 7.
An MRI showed a UCL sprain, but Chisholm will not need surgery. He has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 13. On Friday, April 11, in Detroit, he told reporters that it’s “100 percent realistic” he’ll return when eligible. He said he hasn’t felt pain since the injury and expects to resume batting within a few days.
Since joining the team, Chisholm has been a major part of the Yankees’ offense. In 14 games, he has a .316 batting average, seven home runs, and a 1.063 OPS. He has also played third base regularly for the first time in his career and handled it well.
Yankees’ Pitching Depth Facing Early Test
When the 2025 season began, the Yankees planned to rely on experienced starters and younger arms to cover for Cole’s absence. Max Fried has delivered at the top of the rotation, but behind him, results have been inconsistent.
Now, with Stroman on the injured list and multiple key arms still unavailable, the pressure is increasing. The team is currently in a 13-day stretch without any scheduled off days. Boone and general manager Brian Cashman will need to decide whether to wait for reinforcements or explore early trade options.
For now, the Yankees hope short-term options like Winans and Warren can hold things together. However, if Stroman’s injury lingers or others go down, the front office may be forced to act sooner than planned.
