Michael Pineda Could Be the Yankees Ace in 2015

Michael Pineda, not Masahiro Tanaka and not CC Sabathia, could be the ace for the New York Yankees pitching staff in 2015 if all goes according to plan. Pineda last pitched on Saturday and struck out six batters but more importantly showed an ability to settle down and adjust after getting smacked around a bit in the beginning of the game. It’s the confidence he showed in 2014 along with the dominance and the veteran poise that may lead him to the top of the Yankees rotation this season.

Pineda got hit and got hit hard Saturday afternoon but quickly adjusted against the Houston Astros and kept the Yankees in the game. He looked exceptionally sharp and got more than enough swings and misses with his changeup. The changeup set up the fastball that we all know that he has and Pineda finished with another effective and, more importantly, another healthy start. If Pineda can stay healthy this season and show that he has half an ounce of intelligence in his brain, pine tar incident says it all, then three years if struggling, rehab and hard work may finally pay off for the Yankees right hander.

Given the question marks surround Tanaka’s elbow, Sabathia’s knee and overall effectiveness, Nathan Eovaldi’s change of scenery to the American League and his ability to put hitters away, Ivan Nova’s elbow, Chris Capuano’s quad and Adam Warren’s stamina to stay in the rotation for an extended period of time Pineda may become the ace by default early on.

We’ll finish with a word from the man, Pineda himself, about his start on Saturday:

"I'm very, very happy in the spring, especially today," Pineda said. "You know, I throw two innings, three innings and I feel very strong. I like it."