New York Yankees put Corey Kluber second behind Gerrit Cole in rotation

TAMPA, Fla. --Corey Kluber will follow ace Gerrit Cole in the New York Yankees' rotation, and Jameson Taillon will be skipped the first time through as the team builds him up slowly in his return following Tommy John surgery.

Cole will start Thursday's opener against Toronto at Yankee Stadium and Kluber, returning from two injury-filled seasons, will start Saturday against the Blue Jays.

"When he's at his best, he's kind of masterful and precise," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "We've seen all that flash this spring."

A 34-year-old righty, Kluber signed an $11 million, one-year contract with the Yankees, his third team in three years, The two-time Cy Young Award winner has thrown one inning since being hit on the right forearm by a comebacker on May 1, 2019, none since tearing a muscle in his right shoulder in his Texas debut last July 26.

"We'll be a little conservative out of the gates with him from a pitch count standpoint," Boone said.

Domingo Germán will start the series finale against the Blue Jays on April 4, his first appearance in two years. The 28-year-old right-hander was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 19, 2019, while MLB investigated an alleged domestic violence situation involving his girlfriend, with whom he has at least one child.

Germán missed the final nine games of the 2019 regular season and all nine of New York's postseason games. On Jan. 2, 2020, he was suspended for 63 games. He missed the entire pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Germán pitched nine scoreless innings over five appearances during spring training, allowing five hits, striking out 13 and walking one.

"The lack of rust has been probably the most I guess pleasantly surprising thing to me," Boone said.

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery is to start against Baltimore on April 5, followed the next day by Cole.

Taillon, 29, is to make his Yankees debut against the Orioles on April 7. The right-hander was acquired from Pittsburgh on Jan. 24 for four prospects. He has not pitched since May 1, 2019, while rehabilitating from his second Tommy John surgery that Aug. 13. He also had the reconstructive elbow procedure on April 9, 2014.

"We just want to be mindful of building these guys up properly," Boone said. "We feel like a sixth starter is going to factor in at least once, maybe a couple of times in the month of April."

Boone said it is possible but unclear if left-handed relieverJustin Wilson, slowed by shoulder soreness, could be active on Opening Day. Wilson resumed throwing Saturday.