Marcus Stroman’s rotation case dwindles as Luis Gil’s debut looms

Marcus Stroman has not exactly made a convincing case to remain in the Yankees rotation. 

Manager Aaron Boone has a looming decision to make when Luis Gil returns and makes his season debut Sunday.

Gil has been sidelined since spring training with a lat injury. 

Stroman was given a huge cushion and saw more than half of it shrink, giving up four runs in five innings during the Yankees’ 7-4 win over the Rays on Thursday afternoon in The Bronx.

The Yankees jumped out to a 7-0 lead before Stroman gave up four runs in the fourth inning.

The game entered a rain delay in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Stroman did not return when play resumed. 

“They started swinging early, and I think I was in the zone a little too much in that [fourth] inning,” Stroman. “I felt really good until then, was able to regroup in the fifth and give us a chance to win.” 

Thursday’s start followed another rough showing in which gave up four runs in just 3 ²/₃ innings in a 9-4 loss to the Phillies.

For the season, Stroman owns an unsightly 6.23 ERA over nine starts. He pitched more than five innings in only one of those starts. 

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Stroman and hard-throwing rookie Cam Schlittler are the two obvious candidates to drop out of the rotation when Gil returns.

Schlittler is the more likely of the two, as he can either be sent back down to Triple-A or move to the bullpen. 

Stroman pointedly said, “I won’t pitch in the bullpen,” during spring training when asked about the possibility. Schlittler’s high-end velocity could make him a useful bullpen option, though he’s hardly done so as a pro.

He owns a 4.91 ERA in three MLB starts this year. 

Boone said they “haven’t even gotten to those conversations yet” in regards to either Stroman or Schlittler moving to the bullpen. 

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Mark Leiter Jr. (left fibular head stress fracture) threw live batting practice before the game, throwing about 15-20 pitches while facing since-traded Oswald Peraza and Aaron Judge.

(Judge did not swing but was tracking pitches as he goes through his hitting progression on his way to a return from a right flexor strain.) 

As long as Leiter recovers well from Thursday’s session, he could pitch in a rehab game this weekend before potentially being activated during the Yankees’ series against the Rangers that runs Monday through Wednesday. 

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Boone didn’t waste any time getting Austin Slater involved. 

The Yankees’ new addition — acquired Wednesday from the White Sox ahead of the trade deadline — was immediately in the lineup for Thursday’s win.

He started in right field and batted seventh, going 0-for-4 at the plate while driving in a run on a fielder’s choice. 

“As a kid,” Slater said before the game, “you always dream about playing for the Yankees.”