New York Yankees Starting Pitching Update

Feb. 19, 2016 – Source: Brian Blanco/Getty Images North America

March is cruising right along and the New York Yankees starting pitching seems to be right where it needs to be.

Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka made his spring debut on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Florida. Tanaka, who is coming off surgery that removed a bone spur in his right pitching elbow, threw two shutout innings allowing two hits and walking one.

Tanaka did say his goal for the 2016 season is to reach 200 innings on the mound and the Yankees could certainly use health and innings from the right-hander.

Yankees righty Ivan Nova is looking to pitch in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2014. Nova has looked good this spring in two starts as the right-hander pitched three shutout innings on Wednesday in a 4-4 tie against the New York Mets.

Nova allowed three hits and a walk while striking out one in the outing For a pitcher looking to secure a spot in the Yankees rotation, Nova’s two starts thus far this spring have been promising as his earned run average sits at 1.80.

The Yankees currently have one spot open in the rotation as Tanaka, Luis Severino, Nathan Evoldi and Michael Pineda are all likely to be in the rotation. That leaves Nova and left-handed veteran CC Sabathia competing for the final spot.

Sabathia also made his spring debut this past week, throwing 25 pitches in two shutout innings against the Miami Marlins. It was Sabathia’s first outing since checking into rehab last October. Sabathia, who is pitching with a knee brace told reporters after that he experienced ‘no pain.’

Pineda and Severino are both progressing nicely for the Yankees thus far and Evoldi will take the ball on Thursday afternoon when the Yankees host the Toronto Blue Jays.

All in all, it may be early but the Yankees pitching staff looks to be moving along right on schedule.