Luis

Gil

Gil walked one and struck out two in the contest. Most of the damage done against him came via the long ball, serving up a three-run homer to Spencer Torkelson in the first, a two-run blast to Matt Vierling in the second and a solo shot to Riley Greene in the third. Gil got eight whiffs on 68 pitches on the afternoon, posting a CSW of 29 percent. He now sports an unsightly 6.28 ERA and 1.60 WHIP across 14 1/3 innings through five spring starts.

Gil’s own error on a pickoff throw led to the unearned run. Still, he had another fine outing, which included working around an error in the first and starting a double play to end the second. He’s not promised anything in the long run, but he should certainly be locked into the Yankees’ season-opening rotation with his 2.38 ERA and 15/3 K/BB in 11 1/3 innings to date.

Gil’s fastball averaged 95.7 and peaked at 97, in line with his 2025 averages. He’ll likely enter the season in the rotation, but is one of the prime candidates to get bumped when Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon return. Still, he does have a bit of a runway here -- perhaps he’ll get back enough of his 2024 form to force the Yankees to evaluate other plans when Cole and Rodon are ready. Gil’s now at a 2.25 ERA in three Grapefruit League starts, striking out 11 in eight innings.

Gil’s mound performance was fine, but his showing today will be remembered for the head taps. He challenged a clear ball in the first inning, which cost the Yankees their second and final challenge for the day after a batter had already had a strike confirmed in the top of the inning. Nevertheless, Gil again tried challenging a pitch in the second, only to be informed that he couldn’t do so.

Gil walked none and threw 33 of his 48 pitches for strikes, so the Yankees have to like that. Gil’s rotation status shouldn’t be in question at the beginning of the season, but he could be threatened once Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole are ready to return. So, for him, the competition with the likes of Will Warren and Ryan Weathers should really begin on Opening Day.

Gil, who debuted for the Yankees in 2021 three years before winning AL Rookie of the Year, was a first-time arbitration eligible after posting a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts last season. He, of course, missed much of the season with a lat strain. The Yankees seem rather down on him now, but he’ll have a rotation spot initially. He just might be vulnerable to getting demoted when either Carlos Rodón or Gerrit Cole returns.

Aaron Boone suggested that he’d be delayed a few weeks entering the year. Being still four months away from the start of spring training, bone spur surgery seems like something Rodón could recover from and still be ready for Opening Day. Still, there’s not much harm in playing it safe in April. This could quiet any talk about the Yankees moving Luis Gil to the pen next spring. As of right now, Gil and Will Warren are the third and fourth starters behind Max Fried and Cam Schlittler.

Gil struck out two batters on the afternoon and didn’t allow a base on balls. All of the damage done against him came via the long ball as he served up a solo shot to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the opening inning and another to Alejandro Kirk in the second. The 27-year-old hurler got eight whiffs on 48 pitches on the day, registering a CSW of only 19 percent. With his limited workload in this one, it’s possible that Gil could resurface out of the bullpen later in the series depending on how long the Yankees can push it.

Gil, is slated to take the ball for Game 1 of the best-of-five series opener in Toronto, is the lone change for New York from their Wild Card Series roster. The 27-year-old starter takes over reliever Mark Leiter Jr.'s roster spot.

Gil went 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts down the stretch after returning from a lat injury. The 27-year-old faced the Blue Jays one time in early September and emerged victorious, allowing just one run on three hits and four walks over his six frames. He’ll start opposite Blue Jays veteran Kevin Gausman. It’ll be Max Fried taking the ball for Game 2 of the series.