As if the New York Yankees didn’t have enough problems with their pitching, Nathan Eovaldi just piled up more woes for the Bronx Bombers.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi displayed some glimpses of magic last season, but this season is a totally different story.
The 26-year old has been having a less than mediocre year with a record of 9-8 in 28 games with an ERA of 4.80.
In last night’s 9-4 win over the Boston Red Sox, the right-hander’s elbow was haunting him in the first inning and was replaced by Chasen Shreve in the second. Eovaldi ended the 2015 campaign in early September with elbow inflammation, and elbow discomfort is what forced him out of action this time around.
SEE ALSO: The New York Yankees Should Reserve A Plaque For Alex Rodriguez
Jumping in and out of the rotation this season, manager Joe Girardi may give the signal to leave him out completely and not irritate that elbow anymore.
It’s never easy seeing a starting pitcher going down, especially in the Yankees’ situation where you need stable starters to give you at least six or seven innings. After the overhaul of the bullpen and the offload of Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances is the only threat and he’s been giving the closer duty.
Girardi’s pitching rotation has been shuffled around between Luis Severino and Chad Green, leaving him with no stability. Not something that’s going to pull him in the post season. Working with a four-man rotation and with Eovaldi gone, you have to wonder what Joe’s going to do.
Even though Severino was recently sent down, the Eovaldi injury might bring him back to the rotation. With an abysmal 1-7 record and astronomical 6.42 ERA, the 22-year old might not be Girardi’s go-to replacement.
Green earned his first major league start on May 16 and, since then, has compiled a record of 1-2 in four starts along with 21 strikeouts in 18 innings of work.
Another option that Girardi can go to is Adam Warren. The 28-year old found himself in Girardi’s rotation to start out the 2015 season, posting a 5-5 record with an ERA of 3.59 over 82 innings.
When he was sent to the Chicago Cubs, he was traded to become a starter but was optioned to Triple-A in mid-July after compiling a 5.91 ERA over 35 innings in the Windy City.
Despite what Girardi has up his sleeve, don’t expect Eovaldi and if you do, don’t expect any glimpse of magic. For now, the focus should be on if the Bombers can find a suitable replacement.
