It is also surprising that the Braves lead all of MLB with a 2.04 ERA. But given that they don’t have Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón or Clarke Schmidt back yet, more surprising is that Yankees starters lead by a mile with a 2.14 ERA.
The stars are Max Fried and Cam Schlittler, who have made six starts and combined to allow six earned runs with 36 strikeouts over 36.2 innings.
Fried is Fried, and Schlittler might have the best pure stuff of any starter in the AL. It’s also no surprise that the latter doesn’t walk anyone, given that he can go right at hitters with three different high-octane fastballs.
Will Warren and Ryan Weathers have been just OK, however, and the Yanks haven’t needed a fifth starter yet because of their schedules. And despite their pedigrees, expectations for Cole, Rodón and Schmidt are best held in check. All three are 30-somethings who’ll be returning from elbow surgeries.
Soft sell that this rotation will keep its ERA lead.