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          New York Yankees

          Michael Pineda is surest starter for '15

          • Andrew Marchand, ESPN Senior WriterSep 16, 2014, 09:30 AM ET
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              Andrew Marchand is a senior writer for ESPNNewYork. He also regularly contributes to SportsCenter, Baseball Tonight, ESPNews, ESPN New York 98.7 FM and ESPN Radio. He joined ESPN in 2007 after nine years at the New York Post. Follow Andrew on Twitter »
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          ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- If it weren’t for the pine tar and another injury, then the buzz around Michael Pineda would be pretty intense.

          But let's eliminate the embarrassment of the pine tar scar and forget that he missed nearly four months of action and focus on how incredible Pineda has pitched.

          In 10 starts, he is just 3-4, but his ERA is 2.20. He has looked like a dominant No. 1 or 2 type pitcher.

          Michael Pineda

          Michael Pineda

          #35 SP
          New York Yankees

          2014 STATS

          • GM10

          • W3

          • L4

          • BB4

          • K36

          • ERA2.20

          When you think about the building blocks for 2015, Pineda very well could enter as the starter the Yankees feel the most confident about, which is pretty amazing. It is a testament to what he has shown on the mound and an uneasiness amongst his teammates.

          CC Sabathia (knee), Ivan Nova (elbow) and Masahiro Tanaka (elbow) will all be question marks to different degrees entering 2015. Hiroki Kuroda probably won’t be back next year, in my opinion.

          Even in his last time out, against the Rays, when Pineda allowed a career-high ten hits, he showed something by only giving up four runs in 7 1/3 innings. If it weren’t for Yunel Escobar -- who went deep twice off Pineda -- the numbers would have been even better.

          Pineda showed a professionalism, keeping the game close as he allowed more than two earned runs for the first time all season. The thought that he might be impacted by the pine tar situation is over. Since he has returned from the suspension/upper back injury, he has a 2.39 ERA in six starts.

          Another encouraging sign from Pineda has been his control. Coming off the serious shoulder surgery, it is sometimes hard to have the same feeling in your motion. Pineda is actually better than before as evidenced by his 102 straight batters (26 2/3 innings) without a walk.

          You add it all up and Pineda is the surest thing for the Yankees' staff going into '14. It is both exciting and scary for them.