For Cristian Javier, it felt sort of imperative that he had a strong start to his 2024 season. Or at least provide indications that his struggles from last season remain firmly in the past. If his start against the Yankees on Friday is any guide, then we can at least count that as progress as he held his opponents to four hits and a walk across six innings, striking out six and looking incredibly efficient while he did it. It was arguably the best Javier had looked on the mound in nearly a year before the wheels fell off last year.