NEW YORK -- Marcus Stroman is set to return to the Yankees' rotation on Sunday afternoon against the Athletics following a 2 1/2-month stint on the injured list with left knee inflammation.
Stroman will make his first start since April 11 against the Giants. The veteran right-hander has an 11.57 ERA in three starts for the Bombers this season.
“I feel great,” Stroman said. “Excited to get back out there. It’s been a process.”
That process included three Minor League rehab starts in which he pitched to a 6.97 ERA. His last outing came on Tuesday, when he allowed five runs on 10 hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings, stretching out to 65 pitches (41 strikes) for Double-A Somerset.
Despite the results, Stroman came away feeling upbeat.
“I’m just making sure the knee’s moving well, body’s feeling good, arm’s feeling good,” Stroman said. “I’m someone who definitely needs the intensity to turn it back up, so I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”
What can the Yankees expect from Stroman on Sunday? Manager Aaron Boone said he’ll be looking closely at two facets of his game -- if he’s commanding both sides of the plate, and if his seven-pitch mix looks crisp.
“He’s mostly built up and he feels ready to go,” Boone said. “Hopefully, he represents that when we go out there tomorrow.”
Stroman’s return unseats right-hander Allan Winans, who drew a spot start in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Reds in place of left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. Yarbrough landed on the IL last Sunday with a right oblique strain, creating an opening in the back of the Yankees’ rotation.
Stroman has done his part to make sure he can fill that void. While rehabbing, he worked on a few mechanical tweaks to avoid placing unnecessary stress on his knee. At this point, any soreness is something that needs to be managed -- which he has done since tearing his right ACL in 2015.
“It’s something that I’ve always dealt with,” Stroman said. “… It’s something that I try not to put in my head, because if you’re thinking about it 24/7, you’re not in a good place.”
Stroman will rejoin a Yankees rotation that has been one of the team’s unequivocal strengths, even with a number of key injuries. Entering Saturday’s game, New York’s starters have pitched to a 3.39 ERA this season, the fifth-best mark in the Majors.
“Our rotation is incredible,” Stroman said. “Everyone’s kind of going out there, passing the baton to one another.”
Nearly three months since his last turn, Stroman is next up for the handoff.