The New York Yankees have pitched like the best team in baseball over the first six weeks of the major-league season. So it’s easy to forget they are missing two of their ace starters.
But Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon are on the verge of returning, since the Yankees announced Rodon would move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre while Cole would pitch in Hudson Valley for his upcoming starts.
Rodon could make his next turn in the Yankees’ rotation, potentially as early as this weekend when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers in Wisconsin.
The Yankees (24-11) have the best record in the American League, and are only a half-game back of the Atlanta Braves for baseball’s best record.
The Yankees also lead the majors in both team ERA (2.95) and starters’ ERA (2.70). Cam Schlittler (5-1, 1.54 ERA), Max Fried (4-0, 2.39 ERA) and Will Warren (4-0, 2.39 ERA) each sits in the top-6 in the AL in ERA.
Carlos Rodon is Very Close to Returning
Rodon, who had shoulder surgery shortly after the 2025 season ended, is closer to returning, since he has a less-serious injury than Cole.
Still, both are expected to return within the next month, which should make the Yankees’ starting rotation even more devastating.
Cole, of course, was the 2024 American League Cy Young Award winner and helped lead the Yankees to the World Series before he sustained a torn ulnar-collateral ligament in spring training and had Tommy John surgery in 2025.
In Cole’s absence, Rodon was one of the AL’s most consistent starters. He finished tied for second in the majors wins (18) behind only Fried, and tied with Boston Red Sox superstar lefty Garrett Crochet in 2025.
Despite the Yankees’ dominant starting rotation, there is a slot for Rodon to return without upsetting manager Aaron Boone’s routine. Luis Gil, the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year, was recently demoted to Triple-A, and 23-year-old Elmer Rodriguez struggled in his major-league debut in Houston last week.
Rodon could be in line to replace Rodriguez, who was slated to take the hill Tuesday against the Texas Rangers. That would put Rodon on pace to start Sunday in Milwaukee, following Schlittler, who is in line to pitch against the Brewers on Saturday.
Don’t Misread the Yankees’ Move on Gerrit Cole
Cole has been throwing 100 mph since spring training and has already made three rehab starts in his return from his elbow injury.
But Yankees fans were anxious about the Cole news, since he was moving down a level, even while Rodon was going to face better and more seasoned hitters in Triple-A.
Cole is behind Rodon in recovery time, but not by much, and he is being moved down a level to protect him from the minor-league conditions on the road. Somerset played a day game in Reading, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, and Hudson Valley is home hosting Winston-Salem and Frederick for the next two weeks.
Cole may end up making three more minor-league rehab outings before returning to the Yankees. If all goes according to plan, he could make one apiece at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A before returning to the Bronx in either late May or early June.
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