TAMPA, Fla. -- After each of his last two Grapefruit League starts, Carlos Carrasco has said he has ¡°found everything that I need.¡± The veteran right-hander was talking about his pitch mix, but he easily could have been referring to an opportunity, too.
Carrasco continued a sharp spring with five scoreless innings in the Yankees¡¯ 4-0 loss to the Braves on Wednesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, lowering his spring ERA to 1.69. The Yankees are still discussing their roster plans, but at this juncture, Carrasco¡¯s spot in the rotation is seemingly assured.
¡°It¡¯s been really good,¡± Carrasco said. ¡°The only thing I can worry about is the way I go out and pitch. Getting my location and all the little details before the season starts, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been doing the last two games.¡±
This is a big week for Carrasco, who will celebrate his 38th birthday on Friday, one day before he can trigger an opt-out in his Minor League contract. That would give the Yankees 48 hours to add Carrasco to their 40-man roster or see him become a free agent.
Considering the injuries that have impacted the Bombers¡¯ rotation this spring, it would be a shock if Carrasco didn¡¯t break camp with the club.
¡°He¡¯s right in that mix,¡± manager Aaron Boone said. ¡°I don¡¯t want to speak too soon, but he¡¯s done everything he can to give himself that opportunity.¡±
Carrasco seemed like a long shot coming into camp, but attrition has aided his case. Ace Gerrit Cole is lost for the season to Tommy John surgery, Luis Gil is set to miss at least three months with a right lat strain, and the Yanks lost depth choices in Chase Hampton and J.T. Brubaker this spring, too.
Clarke Schmidt also may begin the season on the injured list, remaining behind in Florida to build stamina. Schmidt is scheduled to throw live batting practice Thursday at Steinbrenner Field, but he has recorded just five outs in Grapefruit League play this spring.
No wonder Carrasco, who was so efficient in his 54-pitch effort that he had to throw another 16 in the bullpen, doesn¡¯t appear to be stressing over his situation.
¡°Listen, I¡¯ve had a lot of tough times in my life, so this is nothing,¡± Carrasco said. ¡°The only thing that I can control now is [to] pitch every five days.¡±
Carrasco has struggled over the past two seasons, pitching to a 6-18 record and 6.18 ERA in 41 starts for the Mets and Guardians. Last year with Cleveland, he was 3-10 with a 5.64 ERA in 21 starts. Carrasco acknowledged even he was ¡°surprised¡± by how well his pitches have worked this spring.
¡°It feels really good, getting those pitches back like I used to pitch four or five years ago,¡± Carrasco said. ¡°I know we had some rough years, and we learned from that.¡±
Ben thrice
Ben Rice homered in his third consecutive game on Wednesday, slugging his team-leading fifth Grapefruit League homer in the Yankees¡¯ 9-7 Grapefruit League victory over the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla.
Rice is batting .283 (13-for-46) with nine RBIs as he aims to make the club; while the Yankees have played him mostly as a catcher (7 games) and first baseman (5 games) this spring, many of his at-bats may come as a designated hitter with Giancarlo Stanton set to begin the season on the injured list.
Cruz control
Fernando Cruz had a shaky outing in Wednesday¡¯s game against the Braves, committing an error on a ground ball before surrendering a two-run homer to Austin Riley.
Cruz walked the next batter, threw a wild pitch and then recorded a strikeout before exiting. The right-hander, acquired in the December trade that sent catcher Jose Trevino to the Reds, has allowed eight runs (seven earned) and nine hits in 5 2/3 spring innings (11.12 ERA).
¡°For him, it¡¯s just tightening up the strike-throwing a little bit,¡± Boone said. ¡°He does that, he¡¯s going to be a real weapon.¡±
One positive is that Cruz¡¯s reputation as a strikeout artist, mostly stemming from his impressive splitter, has remained intact. He has fanned nine batters against two walks.
¡°Tonight was a little rough, but in it, you see him starting to make some better decisions,¡± Boone said. ¡°I feel like that¡¯s started to happen his last couple [of appearances].¡±