Marcus Stroman likely will not start Opening Day for Yankees

LAKELAND, Fla. — Aaron Boone knows who will start the Yankees’ season opener March 28, but the manager is keeping it to himself.

At least publicly.

What is known is it doesn’t look as if it will be Marcus Stroman.

The righthander, after making his fourth start of spring training Thursday against the Tigers in a 7-0 loss at Publix Field, said Boone and general manager Brian Cashman recently approached him about the possibility of replacing the injured Gerrit Cole for the Opening Day assignment in Houston.

But Stroman, who has been on schedule to start the third game of the season and then the home opener April 5 against the team he came up with, the Blue Jays, said his preference is to stay on that routine.

“I think I’m going to end up staying in my position,” the former Patchogue-Medford standout said of the third spot in the rotation. “Just because it’s too late in the [spring] now to get on track for Opening Day. So yeah, I talked to them. I think I’m going to stay where I’m at.”

Stroman, who was not as sharp Thursday as he was in his previous outings — he allowed five runs (four earned), seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 4 1⁄3 innings — has started three Opening Days in his career.

He started for the Cubs in their season opener last year and took the mound on Opening Day while with the Blue Jays in 2016 and 2019.

“I think they thought I was going to be like, ‘Hey, let me get it,’ ” Stroman said of his conversation with Cashman and Boone. “But that’s not my nature. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m confident whoever goes out there from this squad [will] get the job done, and at the end of the day, it’s just another game.

“I’m not someone who’s going to be upset if I don’t get the Opening Day nod. I’m trying to go out there 30-plus starts, that’s it. That’s the goal for me. And I have confidence in anybody we throw out there for Opening Day. Like I said, at this point, it’s too hard to kind of get on schedule and on track.”

So who will it be March 28 at Minute Maid Park?

Likely not Carlos Rodon, who appears locked into the No. 2 slot. Clarke Schmidt and Nestor Cortes are among the remaining options, though both of their schedules would have to be juggled somewhat to get them lined up for the opener. (Schmidt is slated to start Friday night’s game against the Pirates and Cortes is supposed to throw live batting practice on Friday.)

“Yeah, we’ll have to do that, yes,” Boone said of altering a pitcher’s schedule to line them up.

Luke Weaver, albeit a long shot, is a possibility. Going the opener route, though also a long shot, can’t be ruled out.

“I’ve decided who’s starting,” said Boone, seemingly tired of the line of questioning. “I just want a few more days [to] go off the clock, just because a lot can happen still.”

Stroman, who often describes himself as a “feel pitcher,” said altering his routine this late in spring training isn’t as easy as it may seem.

“Every little day matters,” he said. “It changes the schedule. I might have to go to a seven-day, a five-day recovery, it changes a bunch. So being on the roster for Opening Day is enough, and to pitch the Yankees’ home opener, that’s going to be pretty exhilarating for me. I can’t wait for that one.”