New York Yankees: Problems with the Starting Rotation

The most frustrating thing about Michael Pineda is, one day he looks like an ace, the next day he gives up 10 runs.

When the Yankees acquired Pineda from the Seattle Mariners four years ago, he was a 22-year-old coming off a solid rookie campaign that had room for improvement. Pineda possessed a rare combination of power and precision. He had mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider, both of which he commanded very well. The command is what separated him from other young starters at the time.

Shoulder surgery put Pineda’s development on hold. He didn’t pitch at all in 2012 and barely pitched in the minors in 2013. In 2014 Pineda actually appeared in a game for the Yankees. He was able to stay relatively healthy in 2015 as he made 27 starts for New York.

The results were disappointing.

He had a 4.87 ERA but did show signs of pure brilliance such as his 16 strikeout game against the Orioles and his strikeout to walk ratio was more than impressive. But after a return from the disabled list last season, he seemingly lost his slider and had a 5.48 ERA in his final eight starts of 2015.

Pineda managed to come back last season, but that shoulder issue popped up again. The nightmare scenario is that things like that keep happening. A little shoulder soreness here, a strained shoulder muscle there, maybe another surgery at some point to clean up some damage. If Pineda’s hurt again, the Yankees are in trouble.

The uncertainty is whether he can get on the mound often enough to fill play his part on a regular basis, and if his devastating slider can return to form.

Next: CC Sabathia