Luis Gil delivered an impressive performance for the Yankees against the Red Sox, striking out Caleb Durbin with a well-executed changeup. This outing marked a turnaround for Gil, who had struggled earlier in the month.
Key points
Luis Gil struck out Caleb Durbin with a changeup.
Gil had struggled earlier in April with a 7.00 ERA.
The Yankees' rotation improved significantly after recent performances.
Gil's increased sinker usage contributed to his success.
Luis GilNew York YankeesBoston Red SoxCaleb Durbin
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
Apr 21, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
After falling into a rut in the middle of April, the Yankees starting rotation has righted the ship in its last turn. Since the start of the series against the Royals, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Luis Gil, and Max Fried all authored some of the best starts of their Yankees careers. After Friedâs gem against the Red Sox on Wednesday, their starting staff stood atop the MLB heap in both ERA and fWAR. However, itâs Gilâs start the evening before that weâre going to focus on for this weekâs installation in Sequence of the Week.
Gil entered the series opener on Tuesday coming off a pair of mediocre performances against the Rays and Angels. He had given up seven runs in nine innings (7.00 ERA) including an unsightly four home runs. With the returns of Gerrit Cole and from their elbow surgery rehabs looming on the horizon, you felt that Gilâs days in the rotation, and indeed on the major league roster, were numbered.
We join Gil with two outs in the second, the Yankees out to an early 1-0 lead courtesy of a moonshot over the Green Monster. stands on second following a two out double, so Gil has to lock in here to prevent the Red Sox from immediately answering.
Gil had been spraying his four-seamer wildly through the first seven batters he faced. This fact combined with the need for a damage-mitigating pitch is likely behind â decision to call for a first pitch sinker here.
Really good execution of the sinker here from Gil. Itâs just an inch or two off the corner low and away â a call that could have gone either way but is given as ball one. He may have missed the zone with the previous pitch, but it was executed the way he wanted so there is no reason to get scared off the sinker.
This time the sinker lands squarely in the zone for a called strike one. Durbin must be hunting something inside, because heâs not even interested in offering at this heater that catches a lot of the plate. Perhaps Gil and Wells pick up on this, because they go right back to the well looking to execute a third straight sinker to the outer half.
Some excellent framing from Wells earns a generous strike two call. Iâm surprised Durbin doesnât challenge this pitch given the situation â you can see he isnât impressed with the call but hesitates after Boston burned one of their ABS challenges earlier.
After three straight sinkers away, Gil has the situation perfectly set up for a changeup below the zone hunting the inning-ending strikeout.
What a great pitch for the strikeout! Gil perfectly executes this changeup over the plate but below the zone to induce the chase and whiff. This pitch looks like a strike for so long before diving downward at the last moment. Itâs not just Gilâs command of the pitch to that spot that is impressive but his ability to tunnel it with the sinker he threw right before.
Out of the hand and for about half of itâs path toward home, the changeup looks a lot like the sinker that immediately preceded it for a called strike. In Durbinâs mind, he cannot take this pitch out of fear that he will get punched out on exactly the same pitch that put him in the two-strike hole.
Hereâs the full sequence:
Though still not close to his AL Rookie of the Year form in 2024, Gil demonstrated several encouraging signs in this start. I support the increased sinker usage. Gil dropped his arm slot last season to compensate for the lat injury he suffered preseason â this robs his four-seamer of its riding life and is better suited for throwing a sinker (plus he generally exhibits better command of sinker vs. four-seamer). I also loved a handful of the changeups he threw in this game. As Joe Girardi mentioned on the broadcast, the changeup seems to be Gilâs go-to pitch to reset his mechanics, allowing him to find the right release point when he starts getting wild with the fastball and slider.
That being said, Gilâs name is likely the first on the chopping block once RodĂłn returns in the coming weeks. His floor is just so much lower than the other starters who are candidates to be displaced from the rotation. The main issues for Gil are command and a limited repertoire. His walk rate of 12.3-percent is almost double the next-worst starter in the rotation. His ERA is a run higher than anyone else and his 7.32 FIP more than double the next-worst mark. His primary competition â Will Warren and Ryan Weathers â both possess deeper arsenals with at least five pitches each that they trust. Gil on the other hand rarely has all three of his pitches in fastball, slider, and changeup working for him when he starts, reducing him to a two-pitch and even sometimes a one-pitch pitcher. The wayward command particularly of his secondaries is a major driver of his plummeting strikeout rate â at 13.8-percent itâs less than half that of Warren and Weathers. All of this combines to result in Gil being the starter who inspires the least confidence when he takes the mound, and the Yankees have just too many good pitchers to justify keeping him in the rotation long term.
Q&A
What did Luis Gil achieve in his recent game against the Red Sox?
Luis Gil struck out Caleb Durbin with a well-executed changeup, showcasing improved command and execution.
How did Luis Gil's performance compare to his previous outings?
Gil's recent performance was a significant improvement over his prior outings, where he had a 7.00 ERA and allowed four home runs.
What impact did Gil's performance have on the Yankees' rotation?
Gil's strong outing contributed to the Yankees' starting rotation regaining form, leading the MLB in both ERA and fWAR after a rough stretch.
What changes did Luis Gil make to improve his pitching?
Gil increased his sinker usage and adjusted his arm slot, which helped him regain better command and effectiveness on the mound.
Related Articles
Sports
Gabriel Layrac gana la primera etapa de la Vuelta a Asturias
Marca·
Sports
What a perfect 2026 NFL Draft would look like for Chicago Bears
What a perfect 2026 NFL Draft would look like for the Chicago Bears
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
MLB·Recap
Jose Altuve goes hitless in series as Astros make pitch to halt AL West drop
Jose Altuve went hitless in a three-game series, finishing 0-for-14, as the Houston Astros struggled to maintain their position in the AL West. His defensive error added to the team's frustrations.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Steve Yzerman 'very disappointed' in another Red Wings season without playoffs
Steve Yzerman expresses disappointment over Red Wings' 10th straight playoff miss.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Preview
Michigan basketball is a 1-seed in Lunardi's too-early 2027 bracket
Michigan basketball is a projected 1-seed in Lunardi's early 2027 bracket!
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Pogacar, a la conquista de Lieja y RomandĂa: âQuiero aprovechar este impulso para Liejaâ
Tadej Pogacar busca aprovechar su impulso en Lieja y RomandĂa