Jordan Montgomery may already be the Yankees’ No. 2 starter
Gerrit Cole is the unquestioned ace of the Yankees’ pitching staff, but Jordan Montgomery is making a case that he could be New York’s No. 2 starter.
James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka entered the 2020 season as the co-favorites to become the Yankees’ No. 2 starting pitcher behind Gerrit Cole. In reality, Jordan Montgomery has been the team’s second-most effective starter to date.
Admittedly, drawing lasting conclusions about the team’s rotation after just six games is a questionable practice. On the other hand, Montgomery’s sterling outing in the Yankees’ home opener against the Red Sox on Friday night was hugely encouraging for Aaron Boone and his coaching staff.
Montgomery walked off the Yankee Stadium mound in the sixth inning after throwing 5 2/3 innings against the team’s arch-rivals. The only blemish on the evening for the 27-year-old southpaw was a solo home run to Michael Chavis in the third inning.
Jordan Montgomery has earned his No. 2 title
His efficiency against the Red Sox lineup was particularly encouraging. Montgomery struck out five batters while only issuing one walk. He spotted his fastball well throughout the outing, but it was his off-speed repertoire that really gave Boston fits. His changeup, in particular, danced downwards in the zone to get out after out on the evening. The fact that Paxton enjoyed so much success without relying on his trademark curveball bodes very well for his effectiveness moving forward.
The question Montgomery must answer now is whether or not he can pitch consistently for the remainder of the truncated season. The Yankees don’t necessarily need him to be their No. 2 starter, but if he can ascend to that level it would be a major boost for the organization. The team still needs Paxton and Tanaka to pitch at a high level to realize their World Series aspirations, but Montgomery could turn into a starter that Boone leans on in the postseason.
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At the very least, Montgomery’s first Major League start in over a year is a great sign for his future with the Yankees. His recovery from Tommy John surgery may not be complete, but he’s clearly ready to impact the team in a big way this season. The fact that he even has a chance to become the team’s No. 2 starter in 2020 is a huge plus for the Yankees.