Marcus Stroman is getting some extra time to work out of his funk.
After Tuesday’s rainout (following Monday’s off day), the Yankees are bumping Stroman back to Sunday to allow him to throw an extra bullpen session between starts, manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday.
Stroman had been on turn to follow Nestor Cortes, who is set to start Thursday’s series finale against the Angels, but instead he will slot back into the rotation Sunday against the Rangers after Carlos Rodon starts Friday and Gerrit Cole on Saturday.
“I just felt like there’d be some benefit in Stro having a couple of bullpens to work through some things,” Boone said before a doubleheader against the Angels at Yankee Stadium.
Marcus Stroman has a 7.56 ERA over his last six starts. Jason Szenes / New York Post
Boone mentioned Stroman having a “really good bullpen” session Tuesday when he worked on his mechanics, which he will likely repeat on Thursday or Friday.
Moving Stroman back also allows Rodon and Cole to pitch on five days’ rest instead of six – with Luis Gil (on Wednesday) and Cortes both pitching on six days’ rest this week.
Stroman last pitched Friday against the Blue Jays, when he gave up seven runs and eight hits across 2 ⅔ innings on a night when his velocity was markedly down.
Stroman reacts after his latest clunker against the Blue Jays on Aug. 2. Jason Szenes / New York Post
“I’m not too concerned about [the velocity drop],” Boone said. “I pay attention to it, but I felt like he’s in a pretty good place right now as far as some of the things he’s been working through and some of the video he’s looked at, then how his bullpen went [Tuesday]. So, no, not too concerned. And physically he feels good.”
Still, Stroman has not completed six innings since June 22, at which point he had a 3.15 ERA through 16 starts.
In six starts since, the veteran right-hander has a 7.56 ERA over 25 innings while allowing six home runs.
Last year, Stroman got off to a strong start before beginning to fall off in late June, though he previously attributed that to a hip issue that affected his mechanics and eventually landed him on the injured list.
