Yankees' 2026 Rotation Faces Injury Concerns, Questions

Max Fried, Luis Gil, Ryan Weathers, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler expected to open season in Yankees' rotation.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The New York Yankees' projected starting rotation for the 2026 season faces several questions and injury concerns heading into spring training. With Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt all starting the year on the injured list, the team will rely on a group that includes Max Fried, Luis Gil, Ryan Weathers, Will Warren and Cam Schlittler. Each pitcher has their own unique challenges, from managing heavy workloads to staying healthy and developing new pitches.

Why it matters

The Yankees' starting rotation will be crucial to the team's success in 2026 as they look to return to the playoffs. Injuries and questions around workload and development could significantly impact the rotation's performance and the team's championship aspirations.

The details

Max Fried is coming off a career-high 204.2 innings in 2025, including the postseason, and will look to avoid any lingering effects. Luis Gil is aiming to regain the velocity he had in 2024 when he won AL Rookie of the Year. Ryan Weathers has yet to pitch 100 innings in a single MLB season due to injury issues. Will Warren unexpectedly led the team in starts last year with 33, a career-high. And Cam Schlittler is dealing with midback inflammation early in spring training.

  • Cam Schlittler experienced midback inflammation on Thursday, raising early concerns about the rotation's health.
  • Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt will all start the 2026 season on the injured list.

The players

Max Fried

A left-handed pitcher who finished fourth in the AL Cy Young Award voting in 2025 after a career-high 204.2 innings.

Luis Gil

A right-handed pitcher who won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2024 but saw a dip in his fastball velocity in 2025.

Ryan Weathers

A left-handed pitcher acquired by the Yankees in a trade, who has yet to pitch 100 innings in a single MLB season due to injury issues.

Will Warren

A right-handed pitcher who unexpectedly led the Yankees in starts in 2025 with 33, a career-high.

Cam Schlittler

A right-handed pitcher dealing with midback inflammation early in spring training, raising concerns about the rotation's health.

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What they’re saying

“I felt great at the end of the year, I was throwing just as hard as I had all year and was really looking forward to potentially making another start. It was not like I was hanging going into the offseason. I felt as good as I had all year.”

— Max Fried (northjersey.com)

“Improving control and mechanics is really important for me. You look at a guy like Gerrit Cole, I think it's just a matter of pitching effectively, finding the right balance that can make you better.”

— Luis Gil (northjersey.com)

“He's done a really nice job of evolving his offseason training program to hopefully be in a better spot. We feel like he is. He's a really good athlete...with really big stuff. Hopefully, with some tweaks in his game, we can help Weathers make that next step.”

— Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager (northjersey.com)

What’s next

The Yankees will closely monitor the health and development of their starting rotation throughout spring training as they prepare for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Yankees' 2026 starting rotation faces significant questions and injury concerns, underscoring the fragility of pitching staffs and the importance of depth and versatility as the team aims to return to the playoffs.