The Yankees defeated the Texas Rangers 8-7 on Sunday afternoon, despite a scare from their bullpen. The Bombers led 8-3 at one point in the game, and while the win was a little tougher than hoped, they saw a great start from struggling pitcher Marcus Stroman.
The Yankees need a recovery from Stroman
Stroman had allowed a total of 15 runs in his last three games, but he put in a brilliant performance against the Rangers. He threw five innings, allowed four hits and just one earned run. He threw 89 pitches and struck out just one batter, but lowered his ERA to 4.01 this season. Of course, Stroman hopes to continue his good performances, especially since his velocity has dropped significantly this season.
Stroman’s seasonal problems
Before the game, Stroman had thrown 116.1 innings and posted a 4.10 ERA, including a career-low 6.65 strikeouts per nine. His walks and home runs per nine have increased significantly, and his groundball rate is at a career-low 48.6%. All of these numbers represent an incredible decline, and the Yankees decided to give him an extra week of rest and fix some minor mechanical issues.
Details of Stroman’s trip
Fortunately, Stroman put on a winning performance, suggesting he is capable of playing at a much higher level. Of his 89 throws, Stroman threw 31 sinkers and attempted his splitter, which included 16 throws. His throws ranged from 90.7 to 75.9 mph, which is slightly above his current season average. It doesn’t look like the velocity will magically rise back above 92, which is what he had last year. The 33-year-old is definitely hitting a wall of degeneration, and it seems like age is the culprit.
Future implications for Stroman and the Yankees
However, good accuracy and maintaining his ground speed would slightly offset the loss of velocity, but the truth is that Stroman’s contract could be difficult for the Yankees to absorb. They owe him $18.5 million for the 2025 season, and if he pitches more than 140 innings, he has a player option for 2026. Of course, the Yankees will likely try to avoid that payment for the next two years, but they’re already locked in for another year with Stroman, whether he turns things around for the better or not.
