NEW YORK — Marcus Stroman will be activated by the New York Yankees to start on Sunday after missing 2 1/2 months with left knee inflammation.
Stroman threw a side session Friday, and manager Aaron Boone made the announcement after the Yankees beat the Athletics 3-0 in a series opener.
“We wanted to see him today, make sure he’s in a good spot, good with his 'pen and everything,” Boone said. “So just checking the boxes.”
Stroman has not pitched for the Yankees since allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning against the San Francisco Giants on April 11, when he threw 46 pitches in a steady rain. He was placed on the 15-day injured list the next day with what Boone hoped at the time would be a short-term absence.
On May 9, Stroman experienced discomfort in his knee after throwing a batting practice session in Tampa, Florida. He did not begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment until June 11.
In three rehab appearances with Double-A Somerset, Stroman was 0-1 with a 6.97 ERA. He made his final rehab start on Wednesday and allowed five runs, 10 hits and two walks over 3 2/3 innings against the Detroit Tigers’ Erie Seawolves of the Eastern League.
The Yankees placed No. 5 starter Ryan Yarbrough on the injured list Sunday with a strained right oblique and started Allan Winans on Monday in Cincinnati.
Stroman turned 34 on May 1 and is in the second season of a two-year contract guaranteeing $37 million. The right-hander’s deal includes a $16 million conditional player option for 2026 that could be exercised if he pitches in at least 140 innings this year.
Last season, Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in 29 starts and one relief appearance over 154 2/3 innings, his most since 2021 with the Mets. Stroman struggled in the second half and did not pitch in the post-season, when the Yankees made their first World Series appearance since 2009.
