Luis Gil's second start of the season saw him allow four runs and three home runs over five innings against the Angels. Despite some improvements in his strikeouts and whiff rate, his fastball command remains a concern.
Key points
Luis Gil allowed four runs and three home runs in his second start.
He struck out five batters and improved his whiff rate to 34%.
Gil's fastball averaged 95.6 mph, slightly up from his season debut.
He had a low first-pitch strike rate of 50%, below his career average.
Gil's current ERA is 7.00 after two starts this season.
Luis GilNew York YankeesTampa Bay RaysLos Angeles Angels
Apr 10, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) throws a pitch during the first inning against Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | Pablo Robles-Imagn Images
Apr 10, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) throws a pitch during the first inning against Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | Pablo Robles-Imagn Images
Last week, Yankees right-hander Luis Gil made his season debut against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing three runs in four innings, with three hits, three walks, and just two strikeouts. He was undoubtedly shaky despite limiting the damage somewhat. On Wednesday, he made his second start, and even though there were some improvements, the results were similar in the run-prevention department.
Gil was able to pitch five innings, but conceded three home runs and four runs in total. The Angels had five hits and worked two walks against the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Award winner, who struck out five.
First, the good: Gil induced 12 swings and misses, improving the 16 percent whiff rate he achieved on his season debut to a much better 34 percent. This time, the Angels swung and missed on three four-seamers, five changeups, and four sliders.
The breaking and offspeed stuff looked better this time around, even if the fastball command doesnât appear to be there yet. At least Gil was able to miss some bats, sparking some hope about a potential turnaround when the dust settles.
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If you were wondering, Gilâs fastball averaged 95.6 mph on the night, slightly up from 95.1 in his season debut. Itâs still far from the 96.6 mph he averaged in his award-winning 2024 campaign, but if heâs healthy and remains a part of the Yankeesâ rotation, he could potentially get closer to that number.
Now, the bad: Gil didnât appear to trust the sinker. He only threw the pitch five times according to Statcast data, all vs. right-handed hitters. He earned a called strike with it, but nothing more. Itâs unclear if ditching the sinker will be a thing going forward or if it was part of the game plan against the Angels, but he didnât really use the pitch much on this one.
Another red flag was the low first-pitch strike rate, 50 percent on Wednesday. It was significantly lower than his 56.1 percent career mark, and itâs certainly something to worry about. Falling behind in the count will force Gil to cede control of the at-bat to the hitter, and thatâs, well, not ideal.
Lastly, the ugly: three home runs. Wow. Nobody will complain about Gil allowing a home run to , one of the best hitters ever to play the game. Surrendering a home run to is bad, though. That middle-middle fastball was screaming âhit meâ:
The Angels hit Gil hard all night. There were 15 batted ball events against him in the game, and 10 of them were classified as hard-hit balls, which means they traveled at least 95 mph off the bat. In the first inning alone, their exit velocities against the Yankeesâ righty were 98.1 mph, 99.7 mph, 97.1 mph, and 104.4 mph. The Angelsâ average exit velo was 96.1 mph. Rough.
Gil will need to find a way to increase his fastball velocity or at least sharpen the pitchâs command if he wants to return to 2024 form.
The mediocre outing leaves his ERA at 7.00 in the young season. Again, he still has some time to pull off a comeback and return to form, but and  will eventually be ready to return from their injuries. Carlos Lagrange and Elmer RodrĂguez will eventually put themselves in the MLB picture. And those who donât keep the team in games wonât get too many chances.
Q&A
What were Luis Gil's stats in his second start of the 2026 season?
In his second start, Luis Gil pitched five innings, allowing four runs, three home runs, and striking out five batters.
How did Luis Gil's performance compare to his season debut?
Gil improved his strikeout rate and whiff percentage in his second outing but still struggled with run prevention, similar to his debut.
What issues did Luis Gil face during his game against the Angels?
Gil faced issues with fastball command, a low first-pitch strike rate, and allowed 10 hard-hit balls, including three home runs.
What is Luis Gil's current ERA after his second start?
Luis Gil's ERA stands at 7.00 following his second start of the season.
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