Rotation set, with Cole, Kluber, Germ¨¢n 1-2-3

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Gerrit Cole, Corey Kluber and Domingo Germ¨¢n are set to take the mound against the Blue Jays in the Yankees¡¯ first series of the regular season, with manager Aaron Boone announcing on Sunday that the club plans to ¡°slow play¡± Jameson Taillon coming off Tommy John surgery.

With that trio set to work in the April 1-4 set against Toronto, Boone plans to send Jordan Montgomery, Cole and Taillon to the hill in the April 5-7 series against the Orioles.

¡°With Jamo, we feel like he¡¯s in such a good spot physically. With the off-days we have in April, we just want to be mindful of building these guys up properly,¡± Boone said. ¡°We feel like a sixth starter is going to factor in at least once in the month of April. By doing it this way, we¡¯ll keep our guys as much as possible on that fifth day and sixth day.¡±

Taillon was briefed on the plan about two weeks ago, and he agrees with the Yankees¡¯ reasoning. Taillon underwent his second career Tommy John surgery in August 2019 and missed the entire 2020 season. The Yankees acquired Taillon from the Pirates in January.

¡°I¡¯m totally on board with it,¡± Taillon said. ¡°We¡¯ve discussed not putting a hard innings limit on me, but at the same time, it comes with the understanding that early in the year, let¡¯s get creative and see if there¡¯s a way to save some bullets -- ease into the year, ease into cold weather, ease into competition. I¡¯m excited for whenever my name is called.¡±

Three members of the rotation -- Kluber, Taillon and Germ¨¢n -- combined for one Major League inning last season. Boone was impressed by the lack of rust Germ¨¢n showed after missing all of last year while serving a suspension under baseball¡¯s policy against domestic violence, and said that Kluber and Taillon have been ¡°as advertised.¡±

¡°I¡¯m really excited about them,¡± Boone said. ¡°I feel like their stuff has been good. I feel like their recovery and bounce-back has been strong. We¡¯ve obviously got a long way to go, but as we enter the season, I feel like we¡¯re in a good spot.¡±

Comebacker

Kluber exited Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Phillies during a lengthy third inning that featured two hits, two walks, a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice fly, leaving a bases-loaded mess for the bullpen. Then, under the new Spring Training rules in effect this season, he was able to return and finish on a strong note. He retired the first two hitters in the fourth before again yielding to the bullpen.

"That's one of the benefits of the rules here in spring; you can get taken out of an inning and still go out and get your work in,¡± Kluber said. ¡°I'd rather do that than have to go down to the bullpen and finish. As far as the buildup, I think I'm kind of right where we need to be.¡±

Kluber wrapped his spring with a 2.77 ERA across 13 innings, permitting 10 hits with seven walks and 14 strikeouts. Boone saw good movement on Kluber¡¯s pitches, and Kluber said that he has pitched to his expectations thus far.

¡°I¡¯m excited to get to the regular season,¡± Kluber said. ¡°The progression in spring has been good. My next one is going to be one that counts.¡±

Ouch!

Mike Tauchman was in obvious discomfort after fouling a ball off his right shin in a second-inning at-bat during Sunday¡¯s exhibition against the Phillies, receiving attention on the field from Boone and an athletic trainer. Tauchman continued his at-bat, striking out, and played another half-inning in left field before being replaced by Ryan LaMarre.

¡°He¡¯s just icing that. I wanted to get him out of there and didn't want it to swell up too much,¡± Boone said. ¡°He¡¯ll go get some treatment on it; no X-rays as of now. We'll see how he is in the morning.¡±

Wade¡¯s world

One of the few remaining roster decisions concerns infielder/outfielder Tyler Wade, who is attempting to break camp as part of the four-man bench. Catcher Kyle Higashioka, outfielder Brett Gardner and Tauchman are all expected to head north.

? Predicting Yankees' Opening Day roster

¡°What Tyler brings to the table, especially in a bench role, is he gives you a lot of defensive versatility,¡± Boone said. ¡°When you¡¯re talking about second base, it¡¯s elite. It¡¯s really special range. He has the ability to play short, and I like him in the outfield. I feel like in any situation, I can throw him in the outfield and it¡¯s going to be special out there.¡±

Boone has said that Wade¡¯s place on the Opening Day roster depends on the fact that ¡°some things are in play still,¡± perhaps indicating that general manager Brian Cashman may be looking to acquire a bench player from outside the organization. Boone added that he believes Wade is ¡°going to play an important role for us this season.¡±

Bombers bits

Infielder/outfielder Miguel And¨²jar (nerve issue in right hand) has resumed hitting off a tee. Boone said that And¨²jar has experienced intermittent soreness but seems to be improving. And¨²jar last appeared in a game on March 10.

Up next

Germ¨¢n will make his fourth and final start of the spring on Monday as the Yankees conclude their Grapefruit League schedule with a 1:05 p.m. ET exhibition against the Tigers at Steinbrenner Field. Germ¨¢n is preparing to start the Bombers¡¯ third game of the regular season, on April 4.