With rotation in shambles, Michael King could get stretched out – The Denver Post

MIAMI — With their rotation battling multiple injuries, the Yankees could look to stretch Michael King out moving forward.

King was asked to open Saturday’s game against the Marlins. The Yankees planned on him throwing two or three innings and about 40 pitches before turning to Jhony Brito for length.

“It could be something where we continue to try and build him up a little bit while also recognizing his importance [in the bullpen],” Aaron Boone said of King, who ended up allowing two earned runs over two innings and 41 pitches.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean King will move to a starter’s five-day schedule, as the Yankees will use the Swiss army knife as needed, pending his availability.

Boone noted that there’s not much time left in the season for King to get stretched out for a starter’s full workload, but the Yankees can certainly get his pitch count up.

“You probably can’t get him totally built up in a perfect world, especially with how we’re going to need him on a given day,” Boone said. “But certainly trying to keep it in play.”

King has pitched in every conceivable role throughout his five-year career, though his last start came in 2021. He made 10 major league starts from 2020-2021 after spending most of his minor league career in his teams’ rotations.

King, who entered Saturday’s game with a 2.88 ERA, has stated a desire to start again in the past, but he has given the Yankees a dominant weapon in their bullpen the last two seasons. However, injuries to Nestor Cortes and Carlos Rodón have the team searching for length and creative solutions, if not a full-fledged starter.

“He was excited about it,” Boone said of King’s chance to start on Saturday. “He’s expressed that interest at different times, going back to spring training a couple of times this year of, ‘Hey, you know I can start, too.’ He’s just been so valuable, but as we’ve gotten some guys back to our bullpen and having, obviously, some injuries in our rotation, it makes a little bit of sense to have him have some longer outings when we can.”

EFFROSS EMERGES

Yankees reliever Scott Effross made a surprise appearance at loanDepot Park on Saturday, where he tossed in the outfield and threw a bullpen.

The side-arming reliever, recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last fall, said he has now thrown six or seven bullpens. He hopes to be throwing live batting practice by September or October before breaking a bit during the offseason.

As of now, Effross plans on being ready for spring training.

“It’s definitely a lot more mental than I probably gave it credit for at the beginning,” Effross said, but he praised the physical therapists he’s been working with in Tampa. “I try my best to look forward to the next benchmark and kind of give myself something to look forward to, whether it’s longer catch play, starting to throw a little bit harder, getting on the mound, starting to spin sliders. Stuff like that.”

Effross added that he missed being in the Yankees’ clubhouse as he talked to reporters from his locker.

He has had some help from familiar names as he progresses. Ex-Yankees teammate Chad Green underwent Tommy John surgery before Effross did last year. The two, both in Tampa during their recoveries, have stayed in touch and talked about the difficulties that come with Tommy John rehab.

Effross also mentioned bouncing ideas off of Jameson Taillon, another former Yankee, and Clay Holmes. They have also undergone Tommy John surgery.

LO LOOKING GOOD

Jonathan Loáisiga has pitched well in his first two games following a lengthy stint on the injured list. But according to Boone, the reliever has looked sharp for a while now.

“I think Lo looks great,” Boone said Saturday after the righty recorded four outs without a hitch in a win over the Marlins. “He’s looked great for the month leading up to [his return]. I go back to the live BP with [Aaron] Judge [on July 23]. His first live BP I was like, ‘That’s midseason form Lo right there.’

“I didn’t necessarily even think he was that sharp tonight, but he’s that good.”

Loáisiga, who needed surgery to remove a bone spur in his elbow, pitched a scoreless ninth against the White Sox on Aug. 8 in his first game off the IL. He had not pitched since April 5 prior to that.

Boone said that Loáisiga is ready to pitch in back-to-back games, though the manager didn’t plan on using him again Saturday since he threw 1.1 innings on Friday.

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