Yankees’ 0.53 ERA Start Is MLB’s Best in Over a Century

The New York Yankees' starting rotation is doing something right now that Major League Baseball fans have not seen in over 100 years.

New York's starting rotation has been on a heater to kick off the 2026 season. Through six games, the Yankees' rotation has logged an eye-popping 0.53 ERA in 33 2/3 innings of work. The Yankees' rotation has gone 4-0 and has struck out 35 batters while walking just six. The group has only allowed two earned runs in the 33 2/3 innings of work. That's insane.

So much so that Sarah Langs of MLB shared on X that the Yankees' 0.53 ERA as a rotation through six games is the lowest by a team's starters in the first six games of a season since ERA became an official stat in 1913.

"Yankees starters have a 0.53 ERA," Langs wrote. "That's the lowest by any team’s starters in the first 6 games of a season since ER [became an official stat] in both leagues (1913)."

The Yankees are making MLB history

Mar 25, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the fourth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Max Fried and Cam Schlittler have both made two starts each and haven't allowed a run yet. Fried is leading the league with 13 1/3 innings of work and yet he's allowed just five base hits while striking out 10. Schlittler isn't far behind with 11 2/3 innings under his belt without a run. He's struck out 15 batters without a walk yet this season. From there, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers both have a 2.08 ERA in one start each. They both allowed one earned run across 4 1/3 innings of work.

What this rotation has been able to do is insane. And, again, this isn't common across Major League Baseball history. New York is rolling with a four-man rotation at the moment and it's working. So much so that they have been able to accomplish something through the first six games of the season that no other team has since 1913. It's impressive. And the Yankees are doing it without Gerrit Cole as well.

In comparison, the closest team to the Yankees right now is the Kansas City Royals, who have a 1.62 rotation ERA through six games. That's over three times more than what the Yankees have been able to do through six games.

Each year there is something different more and more history is made in Major League Baseball. You can never predict how something new is going to happen, but something always does pop up. Right now, the story around the league is New York's pitching and it's insane right now.