Domingo is back for another shot in the German Yankees’ rotation.
The right-hander will be recalled from the alternate venue and slotted into the rotation on Thursday for the series-opener in Cleveland, manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday before the Yankees lost 4–1 to the Braves at the stadium. After beginning the season with two rough outings, the German is hoping to show better fastball command to make more impact in the second go-around as the fifth starter.
“One of the mechanical things I wanted to do [at the alternate site] Stopping himself from overthrowing and therefore losing his lane and going to one side of the mound, ”the German said Wednesday through an interpreter before the Yankees hosted the Braves. “I think this is one of the reasons why the command wasn’t fast with a fastball. By doing this, it allows me to make the lanes I want and be ahead on the count.”
Jarman said he met pitching coach Matt Blake on April 10 after his last start with the Yankees, and pinpointed the fastball command as his biggest focus on working at the alternate venue. The Yankees will get a closer look at their progress on Thursday. Jordan Montgomery and Gerrit Cole will each get an extra day of rest before following the Germans in Cleveland.
Coming back from an 81-game suspension for violating MLB’s domestic abuse policy, the German was impressed during spring training to win his fifth starting spot out of camp. He was not able to carry that success into the regular season, giving up seven runs in seven innings.
The Yankees gave the Germans an alternate spot after their final start as they did not need a fifth starter for the next part of the game and instead opted for an extra bullpen arm in Albert Abreus.
“You can take it as easy as you can,” Jarman said. “He explained the plan to me. I went there and worked on the things they wanted me to work on. He also explained to me that eventually I am going to come back and pitch here again. “
Thursday will mark the third of 13 games in 13 days for the Yankees, so the German’s return became necessary. He played five innings against Alternative Site Phillips on Saturday and gave up an unbeaten run in two hits, throwing 65–70 pitches.
“I think he’s going to be a very good pitcher for us,” Boone said. “Like our other starters, I really have a lot of confidence in where he’s at and how he’s throwing the ball and what he’s capable of.”
Entering Wednesday, the Yankees had a 4.35 ERA through 16 starts in the rotation – a number that lifted Cole’s four starts to 5.66. Bringing an improvised German back from the alternate site would be a huge help for a rotation that has been short on length and quality starts beyond Cole and Montgomery through early starts.
In his first two starts of the season before being sent down, the German scored three runs in three innings against the Blue Jays and four in four innings against Ray. He was crushed by a long ball, making two home runs in each start.
The German was susceptible to a home run even before his suspension. In 48 appearances between 2018 and 2019, he delivered 45 homers.
“You’ve got to give credit to the hitters,” Jarman said. “Big league hitters, they’re doing the best in the world. They make adjustments like we do. When they find a good pitch to hit, they’re going to hit it.”
