The New York Yankees needed every run they could get on Saturday night. Trailing by four early against the Miami Marlins, the offense mounted a comeback that featured a Cody Bellinger two-run homer in the fifth and a Giancarlo Stanton bases-loaded single in the eighth that proved to be the difference in a 9-7 victory.
The Yankees are now 7-1. The arms on the mound have been the foundation of the hot start, but Saturday showed that this lineup can win ugly too.
Before the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided a significant update on the pitching staff.
Boone Drops Update on Rotation
Aaron Boone was asked where Luis Gil will slot in to the rotation.
“Luis pitches tomorrow as well in Triple-A and then with the off day we’ll take our normal turn through with the idea that he would be that fifth starter after Weathers’ next one,” Boone said.
Gil will step into the rotation behind Ryan Weathers, giving the Yankees a full five-man setup for the first time this season. He will likely make his 2026 debut on April 10th in Tampa against the Rays.
The early schedule allowed the Yankees to operate with just four arms. Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, and Weathers handled everything through the start of the season. Multiple off days between series made a fifth starter unnecessary. That changes next week as the calendar tightens and the games stack up.
GettyLuis Gil is set to return to the Yankees rotation.
What Kept Gil Off the Opening Day Roster
Gil won the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year award after going 15-7 with 171 strikeouts in his first full season. Injuries disrupted his 2025 campaign and he made just 11 trips to the mound, carrying a 3.32 ERA across those outings.
The Yankees chose to hold Gil back because the schedule allowed it, not because they had doubts about what he could do.
His spring results were mixed. He struck out 24 batters across six Grapefruit League outings but his command wavered at times and he posted a 4.66 ERA during that stretch. The control issues that surfaced in 2025 carried over into early camp. But his final Grapefruit League outing against Baltimore was impressive. The best of the spring for Gil.
Boone and the coaching staff saw enough to feel confident penciling him into the rotation.
More Arms on the Way for the Yankees
Gil stepping into the rotation is the most immediate change, but the Yankees have reinforcements building behind him.
Gerrit Cole continues to progress in his comeback. The next phase of his ramp-up has not been determined yet but the trajectory remains encouraging.
Carlos Rodón is also trending in the right direction. A rehab assignment could follow soon if the response to the bullpen work is clean.
The starting four have been remarkable through the opening stretch. Fried and Schlittler have been the most impressive. Warren and Weathers have both delivered quality outings, before Weathers ran into some trouble Saturday. Adding Gil to the group gives Boone another weapon.
GettyGerrit Cole of the New York Yankees. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Yankees
The rotation has carried the Yankees to a 7-1 start. That alone says something about the arms already in the rotation.
Now Gil rejoins the mix. His Rookie of the Year season proved what he is capable of when the command is right and the body cooperates. He is set to make his 2026 debut.
The Yankees are stacking arms. The rest of the American League is paying attention.
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