It was the type of start the Yankees had been missing for nearly two weeks.
Max Fried couldn’t deliver any length Sunday. Luis Gil, Carlos Rodón and Cam Schlittler all came close but couldn’t finish six innings during their most recent outings, either.
So, there was Will Warren, at 26 years old and in his first full MLB season, saving the bullpen and powering the Yankees with an ace-like gem.
He didn’t allow a hit until the third inning. Retired 17 of the first 18 batters he faced. Exited after an efficient 6 ²/₃ innings with just 85 pitches thrown, two solo homers surrendered and zero walks issued, becoming the first Yankees starter to record at least 18 outs since July 30.
If there were ever any doubt about whether Warren belonged in the Yankees rotation long term this season, ever any concern about whether they’d acquire an arm at the deadline who’d unseat his spot in the rotation, his past four starts — with a 1.93 ERA — have quieted any of that by featuring a consistency the rest of the rotation has lacked.
“I think he’s gained a lot of confidence from what he’s been through last year, getting a taste of it up here, coming up this year, taking his lumps at times but also having a lot of success,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I think he realizes he can get really good hitters out with his stuff, and he has that expectation now.”
Even when Warren fell behind 3-0 on three occasions, he recovered to get each of those Minnesota hitters out. He blended his four-seam fastball with his sinker and off-speed pitches to keep hitters off balance, striking out four in a row at one point and five of his first six batters. He allowed solo homers to Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach, with Larnach ending his outing on a sour note after recording the first two outs in the seventh.
But after walking four batters in five starts this season, Warren avoided allowing any. Monday marked the first time in his career he went six or more innings and allowed three or fewer hits.
“I think as a starting rotation in general, I think we take pride in getting — we want to get six or more every time,” Warren said. “Lately, it hadn’t been the case.”
That changed with his outing Monday. Warren would like to think his belief is “at a pretty high number all the time,” but it’s especially the case in the present. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 19 of his 25 starts this season. He became just the fifth Yankees rookie since 1974 to start 25 games, per the team.
And perhaps most importantly, he erased any questions about his place in the rotation. Instead, in the moment, he has become one of their most indispensable arms.
