The New York Yankees have announced that right-hander Luis Gil has landed on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain. In a corresponding move, fellow right-hander Will Warren was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Gil started Tuesday night’s game against the Cleveland Guardians but lasted three innings before he was removed. It has yet to be determined how long Gil will be out for.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees made the following roster moves:
• Recalled RHP Will Warren (#98) from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
• Placed RHP Luis Gil on the 15-day injured list with a lower back strain.— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 21, 2024
Yankees Place Luis Gil on Injured List
This is another tough blow to the Yankees’ fragile rotation, one that has already been banged up with injuries. Gil joins fellow starter Clarke Schmidt on the IL, who has been out with a lat strain since May. While there’s never a good time for an injury, right now is when the Yankees need Gil most. He has arguably been their best starter this season, and has at times resembled a bona fide number-one starter. Without him, the Yankees’ rotation is even more lost.
Warren, 25, has been called up for the fourth time this season, this time to replace the injured Gil. Warren posted a 8.59 ERA, racking up 17 K’s in 14.2 innings in his three appearances. As bad as these numbers look, they are a little inflated due to a bad outing against the Los Angeles Angels, in which he gave up eight earned runs. He has shown flashes of major league-level stuff, so perhaps he can keep improving with more MLB experience.
Next Man Up for the Yankees
While Gerrit Cole has picked up some slack after returning from the IL in June, Gil’s absence signals to New York’s other starters that they will have to be at their best. In particular, Carlos Rodón and Nestor Cortes must find a sense of consistency; both have had their share of good outings this season, but haven’t been as good as they should/can be.
Things could be worse for the Yankees; though this is a very tough break for Gil, who seemed to be getting back on track after a few questionable outings. However, this also means the pressure is ramping up on the rest of the pitching staff. If the pitching falls flat, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto can’t always be there to bail them out.
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