The Yankees nonetheless have an opportunity to win the American League East and earn a bye within the playoffs, however with the membership making ready for the beginning of its ultimate three-game collection of the common season on Friday, the playoff image had them internet hosting a Wild Card Sequence towards the Crimson Sox.
The Yankees started the day with the identical report because the Blue Jays atop the division, however Toronto holds the tiebreaker due to an 8-5 report in head-to-head-play. With the Bombers welcoming the Orioles to the Bronx and the Jays taking part in the Rays in Canada this weekend, divisional matchups will decide how the East shakes out.
“We need to try and win every game, and that’s our focus,” Aaron Boone stated after the Yankees swept the White Sox on Thursday.
If the Yankees win yet one more recreation than Toronto this weekend, they’ll get some relaxation earlier than the ALDS. However for now, right here’s what their potential 26-man Wild Card roster might appear like.
Beginning Pitchers (3): Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler
With Max Fried and Carlos Rodón set to start out the Yankees’ first two playoff video games, the crew is hoping that the left-handers proceed to shine. The duo has been glorious this season within the wake of Gerrit Cole’s spring coaching Tommy John surgical procedure and some different rotation accidents, combining for a 37-14 report and a 2.97 ERA over 65 begins and 390.2 innings.
“Those are big shoes to fill,” Rodón stated of Cole on Thursday after wrapping up his third — and finest — season as a Yankee.
If Cole have been accessible, Rodón (18-9, 3.09 ERA) would in all probability be making ready for a possible do-or-die Recreation 3 begin within the Wild Card Sequence. As an alternative, rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler could be scheduled to pitch on regular relaxation that day, although the Yankees will wish to see how he fares in his ultimate common season begin this Saturday.
“We’ll see how the next couple days unfold. He’s certainly in the mix for that,” Boone stated of Schlittler. “But again, we’ll see how this 24, 48, 72 hours unfolds to determine that.”
Different candidates for Recreation 3 embody Friday evening starter Will Warren and Sunday starter Luis Gil, although Schlittler seems to have the higher hand. Take into account that possible pitchers can change this weekend and that the ALDS schedule would require a four-man rotation.
Reduction Pitchers (9): David Bednar, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Mark Leiter Jr., Will Warren Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough
Pitching coach Matt Blake stated that the Yankees might roster their whole rotation for the playoffs, however Gil gained’t be of a lot use within the Wild Card Sequence, which begins Tuesday, if he begins on Sunday. Gil has additionally been extraordinarily erratic and lacking strikeout stuff since getting back from a spring coaching lat harm; the Yankees might wish to keep away from him altogether this October if they’ll.
Nonetheless, Warren is a part of the Wild Card pen on this projection. He may very well be particularly helpful towards right-handed hitters, as they’d a .651 OPS towards him earlier than his begin on Friday.
“I just want to win,” Warren, who has solely made one large league reduction look, stated when requested about probably working in reduction. “I’m confident wherever I end up.”
As for the Yankees’ precise relievers, they’ve been arduous to belief this season. The group’s 4.43 total ERA ranks twenty third, and the quantity has inflated to 4.97 – twenty sixth in baseball – since a commerce deadline makeover. Devin Williams — twice faraway from the nearer’s function — Luke Weaver, Camilo Doval and Mark Leiter Jr. have all struggled over prolonged stretches this season.
“I feel like a lot of those guys are in a really good place right now,” the skipper stated. “We feel capable that we can shut a game down.”
Catchers (2): Ben Rice, Austin Wells
The Yankees might carry a 3rd catcher in J.C. Escarra, which is what they did earlier within the season when Ben Rice wasn’t receiving recurrently. With Rice, who additionally performs first, and Austin Wells each anticipated to start out when the Yankees face a right-handed pitcher this October, Escarra would offer flexibility ought to the opposition usher in a lefty reliever, thus prompting Boone to pinch-hit for Rice or, extra seemingly, Wells, who each swing from the port facet.
Nonetheless, the Yankees have been simply wonderful with two catchers in current months. And whereas Boone hasn’t dismissed the potential of including a 3rd catcher, he’s stated that he would “feel comfortable” with two.
If the Yankees have been to roster Escarra, it will seemingly come on the expense of outfielder Austin Slater.
Infielders (6): Paul Goldschmidt, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, Ryan McMahon, José Caballero, Amed Rosario
There’s not a lot intrigue right here, as Anthony Volpe has carried out nicely and appears to have reclaimed the beginning shortstop function from José Caballero since getting back from a cortisone shot for his partially torn labrum. Whereas Volpe went 0-for-4 in Thursday’s recreation, he entered Friday hitting .321 with a .795 OPS since his return to the beginning lineup.
“Hopefully, he’s finding his rhythm,” Boone stated.
The supervisor has additionally referred to Caballero as a “10th man” whose velocity and flexibility presents strategic worth off the bench, although that’s to not say he gained’t get any begins this postseason.
Additionally, don’t be stunned if Amed Rosario begins at third base in Recreation 1 of the Wild Card collection if the Yankees’ face Boston’s left-handed ace, Garrett Crochet. Whereas Ryan McMahon is the superior defender at third, Rosario crushes left-handed pitching and is 6-for-9 with a homer towards Crochet in his profession.
“He’s turned into kind of a lefty killer,” Boone stated.
Outfielders (6): Aaron Decide, Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, Jasson Domínguez, Austin Slater
The largest query right here is that if Slater makes the reduce. Like Rosario, he was acquired earlier than the commerce deadline as a result of he has a robust monitor report towards left-handed pitchers. Nonetheless, Slater hasn’t carried out nicely with the Yankees, going simply 3-for-23 over his first 13 video games whereas working round a hamstring harm.
Giancarlo Stanton, in the meantime, is again to being a DH. He returned to the outfield after a proper flexor pressure initially restricted Aaron Decide to DH duties, however the Yankees’ captain has been throwing with extra pressure these days after avoiding some throws and easing up on some others upon his return to the outfield.
“I gotta get back the accuracy a little bit, but that’ll come,” Decide stated Wednesday after his hardest throw since his harm, an 85.8-mph toss, sailed excessive into second base. “I don’t like airmailing balls like that, but I feel good.”
Domínguez, in the meantime, has embraced a reserve function after getting into the season because the Yankees’ beginning left fielder. He and Caballero will give the crew severe velocity off the bench late in video games.
