Yankees Hot Corner – Was Stroman’s last start an audition for Yanks?

Marcus Stroman will never be Jon Lester, or Justin Verlander or any major addition at the MLB Trade Deadline.  However, he may be the perfect addition to an up and down Yankees rotation.  Stroman’s record isn’t pretty (5-10) but he pitched incredibly well on Sunday against the Yankees in a 4-2 loss.

Stroman’s statline is as follows;  Six innings, seven hits, three runs, two walks and seven strikeouts.  He isn’t Nolan Ryan but his exuberance and moxie makes him a perfect candidate to pitch in big moments on the world’s biggest baseball stage.

Marcus Stroman is a Long Island native (attended Pat-Med High School in Medford) and although his stature isn’t big (5’8, 180 lbs) he pitches larger than life and has the attitude to match.  Stroman’s confidence borders on cocky and although he’s got excellent stuff he tends to get inside his own head sometimes.

However, with that high compete level comes a never say die attitude and that’s exactly what the Yankees are looking for.  Add in the fact that he’s a groundout pitcher and he checks off pretty much all the boxes that the Yankees need heading into the postseason.

With Luis Severino and Dellin Betances on the mend and hopefully coming back soon, the Yankees will have an array of pitchers to choose from if (when) they make the postseason.  A pitcher like Stroman will add an injection of youth into the veteran heavy rotation, and give the Yankees a much needed confidence boost.