Marcus Stroman will take the ball in his Yankees debut against the Astros in Houston on Saturday night at 7:15 ET looking to keep New York's undefeated start intact.

• Watch Stroman's Yankees debut on FOX and MLB.TV

A New York native, the 32-year-old Stroman joined the Yankees on a two-year, $37 million deal (with a conditional 2026 player option) in January.

The Yankees brought in the veteran right-hander to provide some stability for a starting rotation that dealt with a number of injuries in 2023. Stroman became all the more important when reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole went down with right elbow discomfort during Spring Training.

Cole said he’s targeting June 1 for his return, so the Yankees’ staff will be without him for a while, putting the onus on starters such as Stroman to pick up the slack. Luckily, Stroman has looked ready in Spring Training.

“My mechanics were the best they’ve been all spring,” Stroman said after his final outing in Grapefruit League play, where he had a 2.61 ERA in five starts. “That’s what I’m happiest with.”

After previously pitching for the Blue Jays and Mets, Stroman spent the past two seasons with the Cubs, posting a 3.73 ERA over 52 appearances (50 starts). He dealt with some injuries of his own during that time, including right shoulder inflammation in 2022 and multiple ailments (a blister issue and a rib cartilage fracture) last season.

Stroman was in the National League Cy Young Award conversation early last season, recording a 2.28 ERA over his first 16 starts. Although he had an 8.29 ERA in 11 games (nine starts) the rest of the way, he nonetheless opted out of the final year of his deal with the Cubs in November to test free agency and ultimately landed a multiyear contract with the Bronx Bombers.

Stroman is one of several notable additions the Yankees made in the offseason, along with outfielders Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo and Trent Grisham.

The new-look Yanks won each of their first two games in comeback fashion against the rival Astros. The Bronx Bombers are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2003.