The New York Yankees face another setback as they lose one of their promising rookie right-handers, Luis Gil, to the 15-day injured list due to a lower back strain.
This incident occurred during Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians, where Gil was pulled out after pitching just three innings. Manager Aaron Boone revealed that Gil had initially described the issue as tightness, but further examination confirmed the strain.
Gil, who called the trainer to the mound after a pitch in the fourth inning, leading to his early exit, allowed three runs on three hits and issued six walks, amassing a total of 78 pitches. Despite the rough outing, Gil's performance this season has been notable. The 26-year-old boasts a 3.39 ERA with 144 strikeouts over 124 2/3 innings across 24 starts.
“I tried to work through it, but you don't want to force the issue and make it worse. I saw the doctor here and told me to take it day-by-day,” Gil explained. “I've never felt anything like that. I'm a little worried because you're coming out of the game because something's not right. But at the same time, you have to take it day by day and see how I feel tomorrow.”
Gil earned a spot in the Yankees' rotation after ace Gerrit Cole went down with a nerve issue in his elbow during spring training. Even upon Cole’s return in June, Gil remained a fixture in the rotation, underscoring his importance to the team.
However, with Gil's recent injury, the Yankees now have three starting pitchers on the injured list, a situation that complicates their pitching depth as they strive to maintain their competitive edge in the AL East. The team, which boasts a 73-53 record entering Wednesday's play, is currently half a game behind the Baltimore Orioles.
Compounding the Yankees' challenges, they recently backed away from a trade deal for Jack Flaherty with the Detroit Tigers at the July 30 trade deadline due to concerns over his medicals. To plug the gap left by Gil’s absence, the team has called up Warren, and Poteet has begun a minor-league rehab assignment, with Schmidt expected to start his minor-league rehab in the coming days.
Gil's injury also marks an unfortunate continuation of his battle with health issues. Last season, he missed most of 2022 and 2023 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Yet, his resilience shone through as he logged a career-high 124 2/3 innings this season, surpassing his previous mark of 108 2/3 innings set in 2021. His contribution this season has been integral, and his absence will undoubtedly be felt as the Yankees push towards the postseason.
As the Yankees navigate through this injury-laden period, the team will need to maintain their focus and find ways to compensate for the loss of a key player. Gil's performance has been a backbone for the rotation, and now more than ever, the Yankees must rally and leverage their depth.