Yankees Bullpen, Rotation Depth Key to Postseason Push

Dellin Betances and Adam Ottavino break down the 2026 Yankees roster and their chances of finally breaking through.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:07pm

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Former Yankees pitchers Dellin Betances and Adam Ottavino, now studio analysts for YES Network, discuss the team's outlook for the 2026 season. They highlight the strength of the starting rotation, led by Gerrit Cole and Max Fried, as well as the depth and versatility of the bullpen as keys to the Yankees' postseason aspirations. The duo also weighs in on the development of young pitchers like Carlos Lagrange and the potential impact of the lineup, including the return of a healthy Giancarlo Stanton.

Why it matters

The Yankees have been knocking on the door of a World Series title for several years, and this season could be their best chance yet to finally break through. With a deep and talented pitching staff and a potent lineup, the team is poised to battle it out in what is expected to be a highly competitive AL East division.

The details

Betances and Ottavino believe the strength of the Yankees' rotation, which includes the return of Gerrit Cole and the continued development of pitchers like Max Fried, Ryan Weathers, and Cam Schlittler, will be a major advantage for the team. They also see the bullpen as a potential strength, with the likes of David Bednar, Camilo Doval, and Fernando Cruz leading the way. On the offensive side, the duo is high on the versatility and depth of the lineup, led by sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

  • The Yankees' first game of the 2026 season is on Thursday, with the YES Network's coverage beginning on Friday.
  • Gerrit Cole is expected to return to the rotation in the near future after recovering from an injury.

The players

Dellin Betances

A former Yankees pitcher who is now a studio analyst for YES Network's Yankees coverage.

Adam Ottavino

A former Yankees pitcher who is now a studio analyst for YES Network's Yankees coverage.

Gerrit Cole

The Yankees' ace starting pitcher who is recovering from an injury and expected to return to the rotation soon.

Max Fried

A starting pitcher for the Yankees who is considered an ace and has a track record of success, including winning a World Series with the Braves.

Carlos Lagrange

A young, hard-throwing Yankees pitching prospect who has the potential to be a dominant starter or reliever in the big leagues.

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What they’re saying

“I totally believe that with the rotation being a strength, I think this is the year. Obviously you got Gerrit Cole coming back pretty soon, [Carlos] Rodón coming back as well. The strength of the rotation is gonna allow the bullpen to be strong at the end of the season.”

— Dellin Betances, Yankees Studio Analyst

“I really like the [Ryan] Weathers move, that was my favorite move of the offseason. I think Luis Gil is poised for a bounce back … [Cam] Schlittler could be taking the next step. Will Warren learned a lot of lessons last year. Obviously they have Max Fried as well. So it's very deep and definitely an AL East-caliber starting rotation.”

— Adam Ottavino, Yankees Studio Analyst

What’s next

The judge in the case involving Carlos Lagrange will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him to be released on bail.

The takeaway

With a deep and talented pitching staff, a versatile and powerful lineup, and the motivation to finally break through after several near-misses, the 2026 Yankees appear poised to be a force in the AL East and make a serious run at the World Series title.