The key to Yankees’ Chance Adams’ sudden turnaround

The Yankees will give pitching prospect Chance Adams his big-league debut vs. the Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday.

BOSTON — The Yankees have decided they’ll turn to a former top pitching prospect who’s overcome offseason surgery and a rough start to make his major-league debut in one of their biggest games of the season.

Righty Chance Adams will face the surging Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday, as the Yankees fight to keep afloat in the American League East race. They’re currently 6 1/2 games back.

Lots had to go wrong for the Yankees to turn to Adams.

But, to be fair, Adams has done a lot right lately to warrant the opportunity, co-minor-league pitching coordinator Danny Borrell said on Friday afternoon.

The 24-year-old has been much better his last four starts, posting a 3.54 ERA over 20 1/3 innings. In his last outing, he lasted 7 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out eight but walking four.

“Concentrating on attacking the zone with all 4 pitches and improved FB command/life,” Borell said in a text message Friday afternoon.

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Adams had surgery in the offseason to remove a bone spur. Borrell said getting distance from the surgery likely contributed to the turnaround for Adams, who didn’t perform well in major-league spring training.

“I’m sure a big part of it was just getting going again and feeling 100%,” Borell said in another text. “Mechanically, he’s the same. But in terms of being aggressive in the zone and trusting his stuff, he’s come a long way. Especially the command of all pitches.”

MLB Pipeline ranks Adams the Yankees’ No. 13 overall prospect. He started the year as a top 100 prospect in the game, according to Baseball America.

He’s 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 21 starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

In 2017, Adams went 11-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 21 starts at the same level. The Yankees drafted Adams in the fifth round in 2015 out of Dallas Baptist University, where he was a reliever.

Adams wouldn’t be getting the chance without lots of other things going wrong for the Yankees, who will have to add him to the 40-man roster.

J.A. Happ, recently acquired from Toronto at least partially because of his success against Boston, was scratched from Saturday’s start and put on the disabled list as he recovers from hand, foot and throat disease.

Luis Cessa was slated to start in Happ’s place. But CC Sabathia went just three innings in Thursday’s beatdown at the hands of the Red Sox and manager Aaron Boone was forced to use Cessa to bail out the bullpen for 3 1/3 innings. Cessa won’t be available Saturday.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.