Going into the start of the 2023 season, the New York Yankees’ fifth starter spot is left with question marks, as Frankie Montas will miss the first month of the season with shoulder inflammation. The right-hander is 8-10 weeks behind on his offseason training, according to John Heyman and Dan Martin.

Montas was acquired from the Oakland Athletics at the trade deadline in the 2022 season. Montas’ shoulder injuries were prevalent in both Oakland and New York. Just before Montas left the Athletics, he missed a few starts with shoulder inflammation. Within a couple of weeks of being acquired by the Yankees, the 29-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list (IL) with the same shoulder injuries.

So far Montas’ time in pinstripes has been filled with struggles and injuries. He posted a 6.35 earned run average (ERA) over his eight starts with the Yankees and after being put on the IL, he did not return until his one inning relief appearance in the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.

With Montas’ shoulder injury delaying his time to redeem himself in the Bronx, who will fill the fifth starter spot?

Likely, former first round pick Clarke Schmidt and Domingo Germán will compete for the starting spot. Before coming up to the big leagues, Schmidt left Triple-A with a 3.27 ERA. However, with the Yankees, Schmidt mostly occupied a reliever role in the 2022 season, only starting three of his 29 games, posing a 3.12 ERA. Within Germán’s 413.2 innings in the MLB, the 30-year-old has a career 26-21 record with a 4.37 ERA and 429 strikeouts. He held a 3.62 ERA in the 2022 season.

Will the Yankees go with the more established and reliable starter Germán, or give young pitcher Schmidt a chance to break through and establish himself as a solid MLB starter? Either way, the Yankees have two solid in house options as their fifth spot.