Marcus Stroman marked his return to the New York Yankees' starting rotation with an impressive performance against the Oakland Athletics, allowing just one run over five innings in a 12-5 victory. Stroman's outing came after a long absence due to left knee inflammation and previous struggles at the season's start, raising concerns about his effectiveness.

Stroman's performance was backed by a potent Yankees offense, highlighted by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Aaron Judge, further solidifying their place at the top of the AL East standings.

This week's analysis dives into American League free agents, examining their potential contributions as the MLB season progresses. Notable candidates include Sean Burke of the White Sox, who is showing promising form, allowing two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts. Dietrich Enns made a surprising return, throwing five shutout innings for the Tigers. The Red Sox's Richard Fitts is back from injury, while Adrian Houser has impressively turned around his career with the White Sox.

Dean Kremer is gradually improving for the Orioles, while Max Scherzer manages to stay relevant despite age concerns. Marcus Stroman is set to return for the Yankees after a knee injury. Other intriguing names for fantasy owners include potential two-start pitchers such as Tyler Anderson and Patrick Corbin, as well as promising relief options like Matt Brash.

Following a disheartening loss to the Athletics, the New York Yankees have made a roster move, sending Allan Winans to Triple-A. Winans struggled in his last two outings, culminating in an 8.53 ERA, raising concerns about his ability to hold a spot in the rotation. With Marcus Stroman set to return from injury, the Yankees are hoping his veteran experience can stabilize the rotation, despite his own struggles earlier this season, including an 11.57 ERA.

Stroman's activation comes after a long absence due to knee inflammation, and while his rehab performance has been shaky, the Yankees are banking on him to provide crucial innings. Winans, who was called up primarily to fill a short-term need, will continue to be part of the team's depth options moving forward.

Clarke Schmidt's remarkable scoreless streak came to an end as he faced the Athletics, surrendering a home run to Brent Rooker in the fourth inning. This marked the end of a 28.2-inning scoreless run, the longest by a Yankees starter since Whitey Ford in 1958. Schmidt's start concluded with four earned runs against him in a 7-0 loss, as the Yankees' offense struggled, registering only three hits against JP Sears. Aaron Judge nearly broke the scoreless trend with a fly ball to the warning track, but the Yankees remained shut out for the sixth time this season.

Despite the disappointment, the Yankees look to bounce back with Marcus Stroman returning from the injured list for his first start since April. However, his recent performance raises concerns, having posted a 6.97 ERA in rehab games. The Yankees will face former pitcher Luis Severino in the series finale, a matchup that adds intrigue as Severino aims for success against his former team.

Marcus Stroman is poised to make his return to the New York Yankees' rotation after spending over two months on the injured list due to left knee inflammation. Following a lackluster rehabilitation stint with a 6.97 ERA, he will start against the Oakland Athletics this Sunday. His manager, Aaron Boone, expressed optimism regarding Stroman's readiness, noting that he had completed a successful side session without issues.

Despite previous concerns about his performance leading up to his injury, Stroman remains confident that the intensity of pitching in the majors will enhance his effectiveness. He has adjusted his mechanics during rehab to alleviate knee strain, hoping to bring increased urgency to his game. However, the Yankees' pitching depth remains a concern as they navigate injuries to other starters like Gerrit Cole.