Luis Gil keeps Red Sox bats quiet in Yankees' 4-0 victory

Gary Phillips, New York Daily News on Apr 21, 2026

Published in Baseball

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BOSTON — Hours before the Yankees faced the Red Sox for the first time this season, Aaron Boone was asked if he thought his series-opening starter, Luis Gil, had been thinking about his uncertain job security.

“I think [Luis is] in the moment, and knows he’s got another big start tonight,” the Yankees manager said, adding that Gil is focused on what’s in front of him. “He expects to do well when he walks out there, and I think that’s where his focus is.”

Gil did, in fact, do well on Tuesday, tallying two hits, three walks, two strikeouts and 83 pitches over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in the Yankees’ 4-0 win. Giancarlo Stanton provided most of the offense for the Bombers, first crushing a second-inning solo homer that dinged off the left field light tower that stands atop The Green Monster. The slugger added a two-run double off the oversized wall in the sixth inning.

Gil, meanwhile, enjoyed better results than the ones he got in his first two starts of the season, which saw him surrender seven earned runs over nine innings. The righty didn’t exactly rediscover his electric, 2024 Rookie of the Year form at Fenway, though, as his four-seam fastball averaged 93.6 mph, a 1.8-mph decrease, on Tuesday. His slider was down 3.6 mph, and he only yielded four whiffs with his change-up and sinker also lacking zip. Gil’s command issues popped up at the end as well, as he walked the last two batters he faced.

Keep in mind, he also threw to a Red Sox lineup that entered the game 23rd in runs scored and 24th in wRC+.

Nonetheless, Gil, who has been working on his release point and delivery since camp, will take the scoreless outing after some spring training struggles, a season-opening assignment to Triple-A and a pair of forgettable starts.

It’s a solid building block for the 27-year-old, who still needs to show more if he is to remain in the Yankees’ rotation. And even then, the decision could be out of his hands.

With Carlos Rodón, set to make his first rehab start Friday, and Gerrit Cole, scheduled for his second rehab start Thursday, working their way back from injuries, a logjam is coming to the Yankees’ rotation if everyone else stays healthy. Even after Tuesday’s start, Gil, who still has a minor league option and isn’t an ideal candidate for the bullpen, remains the low man on the depth chart.

Once Cole and Rodón are ready, another starter will be forced out if no other injuries occur. That could be Ryan Weathers, who only threw 38 1/3 innings last year, or Will Warren, who proved durable with 33 starts in 2025.

For now, both appear to have the edge over Gil, as Weathers and Warren possess sharper stuff.

Of course, no rotation shuffling is imminent with Rodón expected to make at least three rehab starts and Cole moving at a slower pace following Tommy John surgery. A lot could happen before either makes their season debut.

As far as Gil is concerned, a few more starts like his one on Tuesday won’t hurt his case, even if it may be too late to significantly help it.