The New York Yankees have exerted every effort this season to counteract the injuries plaguing their pitching roster. Their depth has been severely impacted with Gerrit Cole sidelined due to Tommy John surgery and reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil facing a lat injury, delaying the start of his throwing program.

However, there was a silver lining as Clarke Schmidt made a comeback to the pitching mound last week against the Kansas City Royals. His return was timely, allowing him to fill the rotation slot vacated by veteran Marcus Stroman, who was placed on the injured list due to knee troubles.

It was evident that something was amiss with the seasoned right-hander, who struggled significantly in his initial three starts of the 2025 season. Stroman posted a dismal 11.57 ERA over 9.1 innings, which did little to win over the fan base following his spring training remarks about being solely a starter and his lack of interest in bullpen duties.

His performance has been disappointing, and he is not expected to return to the Major League starting lineup soon. In an update from manager Aaron Boone, as reported by Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Stroman is still experiencing knee discomfort, suggesting his injury list stint will extend beyond the minimum period.

Listed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to April 12, it appears unlikely that the veteran will rejoin the Major League squad before May at the earliest. Despite his poor performance thus far, he might get another opportunity to prove himself, considering Max Fried is the only pitcher currently excelling for the team.