The NY Yankees are coming into the 2015 with a number of questions, but one is answered now with Adam Warren taking the fifth spot in the rotation and this comes as Alex Rodriguez is trying to work his way back into things leading into Opening Day after being suspended last year.
Masahiro Tanaka will take the ball on Opening Day for the Yankees, snapping the streak for CC Sabathia at Yankee Stadium. Tanaka is coming back after dealing with an elbow injury in 2014 and he looked good throughout the spring, with his fastball staying consistent throughout his Grapefruit League appearances. According to ESPN.com, Joe Girardi said that Tanaka will start the first game and he also made it official with Adam Warren as the fifth starter in the rotation.
The Yankees have Tanaka at the top with Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia, Nathan Eovaldi and now Warren and that gives the team depth with Chris Capuano coming back from an injury. Capuano was hurt in the spring and that opened up the competition for the fifth spot with Warren, Esmil Rogers, Chase Whitley and Bryan Mitchell. The Yankees now have some depth if they need it and Capuano could return in a month or so while dealing with a quad strain.
Warren will pitch against the Boston Red Sox on April 11 and it comes after he won the job with a strong spring performance. Warren went 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA while giving up 17 hits and recording 11 strikeouts with only one walk in 16-2/3 innings. Warren has pitched as a reliever and he had 69 appearances last season for the Yankees.
The Yankees have Jacoby Ellsbury coming back after dealing with an injury earlier in the spring and he played in his first game since mid-March. Didi Gregorius is dealing with a wrist issue, but it's not considered serious and he is expected to play on Opening Day. Alex Rodriguez is getting some more work at first base and he has consistently been hitting the ball this spring and has been low key since returning from suspension.