MINNEAPOLIS -- Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are the top two New York starters heading into the postseason. Whoever slots into the third spot remains up in the air with 10 games left in the regular season.
It’ll likely be either Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler or Will Warren.
Getting a chance to further state his case, Gil did not make it through five innings in the Yankees’ 10-5 win over the Twins at Target Field on Wednesday night.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth and New York up by five, Gil gave up back-to-back singles, walked a batter and allowed a two-run single to make it 7-5. A slow walk to the dugout came after a visit from manager Aaron Boone and left Gil with a stat line that featured five runs (four earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
“You’ve got to give them credit, they were able to make some good contact on good pitches,” Gil said through Yankees interpreter Marlon Abreu. “Definitely wanted to get that one there to get us out of that inning.”
The slender right-hander threw six no-hit innings last Friday in Boston, a performance that Boone called “unpredictable” and “effectively wild” because of Gil’s four walks, two wild pitches and a balk. Still, the manager said it was Gil’s best of eight outings this season in terms of matching his stuff with strike-throwing. And Gil believes he was better against the Twins.
“I felt stronger and more under command tonight,” he said, “especially with the fastball.”
However, Gil's wildness was not effective early this time, as Minnesota scored twice in a second inning when he gave up two singles, walked a batter and committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. He faced three batters in the first inning and four in the third and fourth frames, respectively.
It completes a four-game stretch where neither Gil, Schlittler nor Warren made a strong case for themself. Schlittler allowed four runs on three hits and five walks in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday; Warren gave up six first-inning runs but got through five frames and allowed 10 hits and one walk on Sunday in Boston.
“They’re each going to have a few more [starts] here, so hopefully they put us in a tough situation based on them performing well,” Boone said before Wednesday's game.
The 2024 American League Rookie of the Year, Gil missed the first 111 games of the season with a high-grade right lat strain. Between allowing five runs in 3 1/3 innings in his first start on Aug. 3 and Wednesday, Gil had allowed no more than two earned runs in his past seven starts.
Trent Grisham, who went deep Tuesday, homered twice for New York to extend his career high to 33. It was his fifth multihomer game of the season and seventh in his career.
“He’s solidified that one spot, which is kind of an important spot, and he does it with ease,” said Cody Bellinger, who added a two-run home run in the ninth. “It’s been really fun to watch.”
Grisham's no-doubt three-run liner to the right-field seats gave New York a 6-2 lead in the fourth. Two batters later, Ben Rice scored on a Taj Bradley balk to make it 7-2.
It was the second straight night New York plated 10 runs, and the club's league-best 24th time reaching double figures on the scoreboard this season.
“A lot of really big contributions, finished off with a Belli bomb tonight,” Boone said after the game. “Just really good offense. Good on the bases, stealing bases. After [Monday’s 7-0 loss] where we got beat up a little bit, it’s good to answer back.”