The Yankees' Starting Staff: A Deep Dive into the 2026 Season
The New York Yankees have been a force to be reckoned with in the American League this season, and their starting staff has been a key reason for their success. With a mix of established stars and emerging talents, the Yankees' rotation has exceeded expectations, and it's worth taking a closer look at the players who have contributed to this impressive performance.
One of the standout performers is Will Warren, a 27-year-old right-hander who has been a revelation this season. Warren's 3.42 ERA through nine starts is impressive, but it's his strikeout and walk rates that have caught the eye. His strikeout rate has increased from 24.1% in 2025 to 29.8% in 2026, while his walk rate has dropped from 9.1% to 6.1%. This has resulted in a K-BB% (strikeout rate minus walk rate) of 23.7%, which is significantly higher than the league average for a starting pitcher. What's more, Warren's K-BB% is one of the strongest predictors of future run prevention, indicating that his early success is not a fluke.
But what's truly fascinating about Warren is how he's achieved this success. Unlike some pitchers who rely heavily on a single pitch, Warren's arsenal is diverse and well-balanced. He throws his four-seam fastball, sinker, and sweeper about one-third of the time against right-handed batters, and when he doesn't have the platoon advantage, he mixes in a changeup and a curveball. All five of these offerings have above-average raw stuff, according to models like Stuff+ and PitchingBot at FanGraphs.
However, it's not just the raw stuff that has improved. Warren's command has also been a key factor in his success. He's been hitting his spots with these pitches more frequently, and his heat maps confirm this. He's not letting his four-seam fastball drift to the sides, wasting fewer sweepers, and punishing opposite-handed hitters with his changeup low and away. While he might not be throwing more pitches in the zone, he's throwing pitches where he needs to earn more strikes.
The beauty of Warren's pitching is that all five of his pitches work in tandem. His changeup plays off his sinker, his sinker pairs with his four-seam, and they all work because his sweeper gives him a different look. His arsenal is more than the sum of its parts, and this is reflected in his overall Pitching+ and PitchingBot scores, which are among the best in the league. Warren's 118 Pitching+ score ranks third among qualified arms across MLB, and his PitchingBot score leads all 79 qualified pitchers in the major leagues.
But Warren isn't the only reason the Yankees' starting staff has exceeded expectations. Cam Schlittler, a 25-year-old right-hander, has also been a revelation this season. Schlittler owns an AL-leading 1.35 ERA across nine starts, and opposing batters are hitting a mere .176 against him. With a 24.8% K-BB%, Schlittler is turning heads, and his performance has made him an early frontrunner to start for the AL All-Stars this summer.
The Yankees' starting staff has been a key reason for their success this season, and it's worth noting that they've been able to achieve this despite the absence of several key pitchers. Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Luis Gil have all been sidelined at various points, and even Clarke Schmidt's availability is uncertain. Yet, even without these players, the Yankees' starters lead the Junior Circuit in wins, xERA, and FanGraphs WAR. Their 3.14 ERA ranks second, and their 16.5% K-BB% ranks third.
In conclusion, the Yankees' starting staff has been a source of strength and stability for the team this season. With a mix of established stars and emerging talents, they've exceeded expectations and are poised to make a run at the postseason. While Warren and Schlittler have been standout performers, it's the collective effort of the entire staff that has contributed to the team's success. As the season progresses, the Yankees will look to build on this momentum and continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the American League.
