Carlos Carrasco’s first start provides needed boost for Yankees’ ailing rotation

This was never in the Yankees’ Plan A — or Plan B, even — to start the season, but Carlos Carrasco pitched himself onto the 26-man roster by the end of spring training after injuries to Gerrit Cole, Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt. 

After a shaky outing out of the bullpen to begin the regular season, Carrasco flashed a glimpse of his vintage form during his first start of the campaign in the Yankees’ 9-7 win over the Diamondbacks on Thursday in The Bronx.

The 38-year-old, in his 16th season and on his third team in three years, threw 5 ¹/₃ innings, allowed just three runs on five hits, struck out five and exited to a loud ovation. 

“You have to find a way,” Carrasco said, “and pretty much that’s what we did today.” 

Carlos Carrasco pitches during the Yankees’ 9-7 win over the Diamondbacks on April 3, 2025. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

It was a promising sign for the Yankees, who have faced question after question regarding their rotation to start the year.

First, Gil went down with a lat strain that will keep him out until at least June.

Then, Cole was lost for the year after Tommy John surgery, and Schmidt’s spring was delayed by right rotator cuff tendinitis. As the spring drudged along, though, a glimmer of hope started to emerge. 

Carrasco collected a 1.69 ERA across his five Grapefruit League appearances (four starts) and was added to the Yankees’ roster instead of opting out at the end of the spring.

He parlayed a minor league deal into at least some starts until the rotation can become whole again. 

He was sharp against the Diamondbacks, blending a four-seam fastball with a splitter and changeup.

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Carrasco struck out two in the first inning, and after a leadoff walk turned into a run in the second, he recovered with another 1-2-3 third.

Everything threatened to unravel in the fourth, but after a walk, single and double to start the frame created two Arizona runs, Carrasco recovered to collect consecutive outs and avoid further damage. 

“More of what we saw in spring,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He was real poised, real in command and again, that’s a real good lineup. That’s a really good team.” 

Carlos Carrasco reacts during the Yankees’ win over the Diamondbacks on April 3, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The Yankees’ bullpen teetered on the brink of implosion and threatened to undo Carrasco’s chance at a win, but instead, the Yankees left for Pittsburgh with another promising rotation sign.

It’ll take more than one start for Carrasco to turn this into something sustainable. 

But for now, it’s a start.

And the Yankees — after everything that went wrong for the pitching staff during the spring — needed that.