Gerrit Cole’s start pushed back, Elmer Rodríguez to pitch Sunday with Jake Bird demoted

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Elmer Rodriguez of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders enters the field before a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

We don’t get an ace-off after all. With the Yankees trying to manage a pitching rotation that’s both played at its highest level and seen its share of injuries, Gerrit Cole will be pushed back a day and make his start with an additional day of rest on Monday in Detroit. The club is trying to avoid three straight turns the the rotation on five days’ rest, especially with a careful eye on Cole’s surgically repaired elbow. Rookie Elmer Rodríguez will be called upon to make his third start of the season in the finale with the Reds tomorrow.

ERC looked every bit the part of a rookie starter during his two previous outings in May, in particular demonstrating a lack of control that needs to be his primary focus in order to be a full timer in the big leagues. A 14.1-percent walk rate is a jump from his already-high 11-percent mark with Triple-A Scranton. Getting the ball in the strike zone will be his task against the Reds.

Boone said Elmer Rodriguez will start Sunday. Desire is to give each of the starters an extra day so the rotation doesn’t go three straight turns on five days rest. Cole will start Monday in Detroit. Jake Bird optioned as the Rodriguez move

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) June 20, 2026

The corresponding move for Rodríguez is that the ever-scuffling Jake Bird goes down to Scranton, and frankly that just means that Aaron Boone will no longer be tempted to put him into a game. It’s a win all around as far as I’m concerned.

These kinds of moves are one of the perks of being a first-place team. Everyone in baseball is trying to figure out how to manage the health of their pitching staff, and the Yankees have a chance to inject an extra bit of rest into the group. Losing on Saturday makes things a little more stressful for young ERC, because you want to win series too, but giving a veteran a little extra time isn’t a bad idea in my book.

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