Will Warren picked a good day to show what he can be.
With the Yankees facing the Red Sox in a tie-breaker-deciding game Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Warren turned in the best outing of his career and did it with a new pitch in the mix. The right-hander worked seven innings, gave up one run on six hits and struck out seven as New York crushed Boston 16-1. It was his longest start of the season, and it lowered his 2026 ERA to 4.23 while pushing his record to 9-6.
The finish said plenty about how well the afternoon went for him. Warren got a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd, a well-earned salute for a pitcher who has spent much of the past two-plus years trying to lock down his place in the rotation and build a dependable big-league reputation.
He had to work through some early trouble first. Roman Anthony opened the game with a double, Wilyer Abreu drew a walk, and Warren had to escape the first inning without letting the Red Sox cash in more than once. After that, he settled in and took control, rolling through Boston’s lineup and handing the ball to Tim Hill in the eighth after a 98-pitch outing.
What stood out beyond the line score was the introduction of a new gyro slider. The pitch fits between Warren’s four-seamer and his sweeper/curve, giving him another option in the middle of his arsenal. It showed up in the same game as his signature start, which makes it easy to imagine it sticking around in future outings.
Warren is scheduled to pitch again Friday night in relief of Max Fried, part of a piggyback setup meant to help the left-hander build back toward starting status. After what the gyro slider did against Boston, the next look should be interesting.
The larger question is whether Sunday was a one-off peak or a real step forward. Warren began the season well, but inconsistency has lately put his rotation spot under pressure. This start was a reminder of the ceiling he brings when everything clicks, even if he still has to prove he can deliver that version more often.
Efficiency has been the issue. On Sunday, the 98-pitch workload showed what Warren looks like when that problem is under control. Whether that becomes the norm is still to be determined.
For now, the Yankees don’t need Warren to start playoff games. But if one of their three aces gets hurt, that changes quickly. And with Gerrit Cole not getting any younger, Sunday offered a useful glimpse of a right-hander trending toward being a reliable part of the future rotation.
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