Eventually, the Yankees’ starting pitching will run this team smack into a brick wall.
It may not happen until late in the season. It may not happen until October, but the Yankees must clean up their rotation — and it’s going to take more than the return of Andy Pettitte.
Once again, the bats saved a starting pitcher as the Yankees twice came from behind to beat the Tigers, 7-6 last night at Yankee Stadium, when the ageless Derek Jeter scored on a passed ball for the walk-off win.
The Yankees managed to hit two home runs against Detroit ace Justin Verlander, who had not given up a home run all season. One was hit by Alex Rodriguez in the fourth, the other by Russell Martin in the fifth. Verlander has never won at the new Yankee Stadium.
“We just believe we can have big innings in the first inning or the last inning and our team never quits,’’ Martin said. “It’s a long year and trust me, there are going to be times when our starting pitching is going to keep us afloat.’’
At this point, the Yankees are going to need a pitching makeover for that to happen. Ivan Nova, who usually finds a way to win, lasted just 5 1/3 innings, surrendered six runs on 11 hits and walked three batters. That is not going to get it done. It was the first time in 11 games the Tigers managed to score more than four runs.
“I believe our starting pitching is going to get better,’’ manager Joe Girardi said.
The starting pitching didn’t cost the Yankees last night, but these kinds of outings will catch up to them. The Yankees are 29th in starting pitching with a 5.95 ERA. If that continues, they will be not be long for October, if they make it that far.
Seven of the Yankees’ 11 wins this season have been comeback wins. That’s too much to ask of any offense, and those kinds of comebacks don’t happen regularly in October.
On this night, Jesus Montero hit his third home run of the young season for the Mariners. He was the Yankees’ big trade chip, and it didn’t work — in 2012 at least — because Michael Pineda’s shoulder couldn’t survive his delivery.
“He’s got to clean up that delivery,’’ one Yankee told me.
The challenge now is for Girardi to get the most he can out of his flawed rotation. The Yankees thought they corrected their pitching problems this winter, but those moves have backfired.
Considering where the Yankees draft every year, it will be difficult to ever come up with a Verlander of their own. He was the second pick of the 2004 draft. The Yankees will never get the second pick. General manager Brian Cashman has tried so many different ways to bring in pitching, and the only proven method so far is to go after superstars such as CC Sabathia when they become available on the free agent market. That’s expensive, but that may be the only way to do business. Hello, Cole Hamels.
Girardi said he thinks this group of starters can be salvaged.
“I believe in our guys. Some of the guys are struggling right now, but we’re not the only club that is going through that,’’ he said. “You just got to keep running them out there and see if you can get it right.’’
The Yankees starters have so many issues, a little deception could go a long way. David Robertson, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning last night, walking one and striking out two, has great success out of the bullpen, not only because of his stuff, but because he hides the ball in his delivery. In contrast, the struggling Phil Hughes has little deception in his delivery. Girardi knows how tough it is here for his young pitchers.
“When you get here as a player, you’re expected to do it right then and there are no excuses,’’ he said. “That can be hard on a player.’’
The Yankees’ starting pitching is not nearly good enough to survive over the long haul. Sooner or later, they will hit the brick wall.