Starting Rotation is the Yankees’ X-Factor in 2016

The New York Yankees are coming into the 2016 season with high hopes. The franchise and the fans are looking to put their one-and-done Wild Card play-in game in the past. To help them make this jump, they will be looking to their starting rotation for support.

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Last season was filled with surprises for the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez, who many expected to produce very little, was able to put together a season in which he batted .250 with an unexpected 33 home runs.

The biggest surprise came in the form of a lack of production from their starting rotation. Their starting rotation, which consisted of C.C. Sabathia, Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi, Masahiro Tanaka, Ivan Nova and Luis Severino, collectively achieved an ERA just below 4.00. Hardly something to boast about.

If the Yankees have any hopes of competing in the AL East and making it to the playoffs, their starting rotation must find a way to improve and also reduce their individual and collective ERA.

Tanaka is coming off a surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow. It is expected that he will be prepared to pitch on Opening Day. When Tanaka eventually completes his rehab and is able to compete, his presence on the mound must be dominant and reminiscent of his 2014 season, in which he was named an All Star and boasted a 2.77 ERA with 141 strike outs.

This past season, Tanaka was unable to command his off speed pitches like he was able to in his premiere season in America. What used to be a devastating splitter became an average off speed pitch with very little bite. In 2015, Tanaka added almost a full run to his ERA and drove it up to 3.51.CC Sabathia sidelined himself for the playoffs for personal reasons.

Dealing with an alcohol problem, Sabathia voluntarily checked himself into a rehab clinic. This problem was not known to anyone outside of the Yankees system, but could have been deduced from his actions, one of which included brawl outside a Toronto night club late in the season.

CC Sabathia sidelined himself for the playoffs for personal reasons. Dealing with an alcohol problem, Sabathia voluntarily checked himself into a rehab clinic. This problem was not known to anyone outside of the Yankees system, but could have been deduced from his actions, one of which included brawl outside a Toronto night club late in the season.

The past two seasons have not been kind to Sabathia; his ERA has been north of 4.50 and he has had more losses than wins. His 2014 season was cut short due to degeneration in his right knee. Hopes were high that Sabathia would be able to come back in 2015 with the usual dominance that he exhibited in previous years.

Unfortunately, this positive comeback was not what came of the 2015 season. In 29 games started, Sabathia was only able to secure a decision in 16 of those contests and he lost ten of them. On top of his dismal win/loss record, Sabathia attained an ERA of 4.73. If Sabathia hopes to be successful this coming season, he will have to learn how to be an effective pitcher without a fastball that can top out at 97 MPH.

Michael Pineda has been with the team for just two seasons and this past season was the first year in which he experienced consistent playing time. Early in 2014, in a game against the Boston Red Sox, Pineda was suspended for using pine tar to gain an unfair advantage.

Because of this infraction of rule 8.02(b), Pineda was suspended for 10 games. Since his suspension, it seems as if Pineda has gained some maturity and since then, he has had no rules

violations. At times, Pineda was considered the ace of the Yankees pitching staff because of his ability to blow batters away with his fastball and making knees wobbly with his off speed. If Pineda hopes to make a mark on this town and the team, he must recall his momentary flashes of greatness into a sustained period of success.

The final two spots in the Yankee starting rotation will most likely go to second year pitcher Luis Severino and slightly more seasoned pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.

Each of these men experienced their fair share of disappointment in this past season. Despite having a record of 14-3, Eovaldi posted an ERA of 4.20. Compared to the rest of the rotation, Severino played much less and gained less exposure on the big stage. In just 11 games, the 21-year-old secured a record of 5-3 with 2.89 ERA.

Although he played very little last season, hopes are high for the young, home grown arm. Hopes are equally as high for Eovaldi. Yankee fans around the country hope he will be able to use his fastball that has the ability to top 100 MPH to shut down opposing bats.

It is obvious that their offseason additions of Starlin Castro and Aroldis Chapman will help this Yankee team taste success in the postseason once again. Ultimately, their success will come down to their starting rotation’s ability to be dominant early in games. If this happens, then the Yankees should be poised for another run in the playoffs.