Luis Gil's Yankees return date revealed as he faces one last hurdle
The reigning AL Rookie of the Year is lined up to make his season debut on Sunday against the Marlins, manager Aaron Boone said on his weekly Talkin' Yanks appearance, as long as Gil gets through his last rehab start on Tuesday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The right-hander is expected to build up to around 75 pitches on Tuesday after throwing 67 his last time out as he continues to work back from a high-grade lat strain that he suffered in spring training.
As the rotation currently lines up, Gil starting Sunday in Miami would give Max Fried (starting for the Yankees on Tuesday) an extra day before his next start against the Rangers on Monday.
The Yankees could sorely use a healthy and impactful Gil over the final two months of the season to bolster the rotation behind Fried and Carlos Rodón.
Luis Gil is set to return to the Yankees rotation on Sunday.
Robert Sabo for NY Post
Clarke Schmidt had been serving as a strong No. 3 before he was lost earlier this month to Tommy John surgery — joining Gerrit Cole, who like Gil, did not make it out of camp.
Will Warren has made every start this season but has been inconsistent and is already nearing his career-high in innings.
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Marcus Stroman missed two and a half months with a knee injury and had been solid upon his return before tossing a clunker on Saturday.
Swingman Ryan Yarbrough had offered a surprise boost after entering the rotation in May, but was lost in June to an oblique strain that still has him on the IL.
Luis Gil has one more rehab start Tuesday night.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
And the hard-throwing Cam Schlittler has shown glimpses of his potential in three big league starts, but still has some development to do, possibly back at Triple-A.
All of that, even with Gil's looming return, makes it possible that GM Brian Cashman will add another starter before Thursday's trade deadline, even if bullpen arms are the bigger need for a club that has been in a funk that has now lasted over six weeks.
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