When the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole, it appeared they turned an area of weakness, their starting rotation, into a strength in one fell swoop. And even when Luis Severino went down with Tommy John surgery, the starting five still looked to be one of the most dangerous in the league. A quarter of the way into the season, these notions are beginning to unravel.
Cole, while still plenty effective, has not yet reached the commanding form from his Houston days; J.A. Happ, after a strong spring, is back to his home-run-surrendering ways; Jordan Montgomery has been hit-or-miss.