Yankees pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Fernando Cruz began rehab assignments with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night, and it was a mixed bag for the two.
Yarbrough started the RailRiders' game against Indianapolis and got off to a good start. After stranding a runner in the first inning, Yarbrough made his one mistake in the second. He got the first two batters out — one on a pop out and the other called out on strikes — before Alika Williams smashed a 1-1 fastball over the plate for a solo shot. Williams' blast went 419 feet with an exit velocity of 101.6 mph.
That would be the only run Yarbrough would give up, and he finished his night with a 1-2-3 third inning, all on ground outs.
Yarbrough allowed one run on three hits and no walks across three innings (37 pitches/25 strikes) while striking out three batters.
When Yarbrough went down with an oblique strain in mid-June, the southpaw was a part of the team's rotation, but his spot may not be there when he returns. The Yankees' rotation is currently comprised of Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren, the recently-returned Luis Gil and promising rookie Cam Schlittler. The team could conceivably option Schlittler back to the minors to limit his innings down the stretch to get Yarbrough back in the rotation, or use him in the bullpen like they did the first month of the season.
In 16 games (eight starts), Yarbrough has pitched to a 3.90 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP.
Cruz relieved Yarbrough to start the fourth inning and was in immediate trouble. After giving up a leadoff single, Cruz got a fly out before walking the third batter he faced. A stolen base followed by a single from Williams gave Indianapolis its second run of the game.
After just four batters, Cruz's night was over. Sean Boyle allowed a single in relief of Cruz as the second run charged to the Yankees reliever crossed home plate.
Cruz tossed just 21 pitches (10 strikes) in his 0.1 inning of work, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk.
The Yanks placed Cruz on the IL back in late-June with an oblique strain, and the right-hander was finally in game action for the first time in over a month. Despite his bad outing, the Yankees need Cruz back in the bullpen as he was one of their best before the injury.
In 32 appearances, Cruz pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts across 33 innings pitched in his first season in pinstripes. He also closed two games.
