NEW YORK -- The lights will burn for another postseason series at Yankee Stadium, though it’s not the one they would have preferred. For a second consecutive year, the Bronx Bombers will play host to the American League Wild Card Series, which opens Tuesday.
The final games of the regular season will thus become a testing ground for manager Aaron Boone and his coaching staff, resting players and ensuring they are as prepared as possible for the best-of-three series, which will be against the Red Sox. As the No. 4 seed, the Yankees will host Boston, the No. 5 seed.
“As best we can, we’ll get ourselves sharp,” Boone said. “They’re real games, so we’re playing, but I definitely will pick some spots to get some guys down. Some of our leverage guys in the ‘pen, we want them pitching, but we’ll be very selective in how we do it. We’ll talk through those things each and every day.”
This marks the Yankees’ seventh appearance in the Wild Card round and the 61st playoff appearance in franchise history.
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“It’s always a good thing when you can celebrate those moments in a season,” Boone said. “A lot of people pour a lot of time, effort and sweat. Obviously, it’s just the first step of what we hope is many.”
Now that they’ve reached the postseason, what else is in store for the Yankees?
What could the postseason roster look like?
C: Austin Wells, Ali Sánchez
1B: Luis García Jr., Paul Goldschmidt
2B: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe
3B: Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario
SS: George Lombard Jr., José Caballero
OF: Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones, Heliot Ramos
DH: Ben Rice, Giancarlo Stanton
SP: Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Max Fried
RP: David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick, Tim Hill, Michael Fulmer, John Schreiber, Will Warren, Carlos Rodón
Boone said this roster feels more unsettled going into the postseason than any of his previous seasons, with much more to navigate than the final spots.
“It does seem like there’s more to work through this year, especially when you consider some of the injuries,” Boone said.
The Yankees went with 12 pitchers and 14 batters when they hosted the Red Sox in last year’s AL Wild Card Series. For our exercise, we’re going to go with 11 pitchers, allowing an extra roster spot for Stanton -- carried as a pinch-hitting option.
That slot can be used for Stanton, Aaron Judge or Trent Grisham, depending on health. The odds are against Judge being ready for the Wild Card Series. Since the likely opponent is Boston, we’ll lean toward Stanton, providing another right-handed bat. That could shift to Grisham if it’s not Boston.
There is no scenario where the Yankees would carry 13 pitchers in the first round, Boone said.
When does the postseason begin?
The AL Wild Card Series will begin on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. The winner of that series will advance to face the Rays in the AL Division Series, which opens Oct. 3 at Tropicana Field.
Who would the Yankees play if the season ended today?
So ... the Yankees and the Red Sox, huh?
Yep! It will be an exact rematch of last year’s AL Wild Card Series, with the Yankees hosting the Red Sox in the Bronx. The Yankees won that series, two games to one. This year, the Yankees were 7-6 against Boston.
It's the seventh time the rivals have faced off in the postseason, in addition to the 1978 Bucky Dent AL East tiebreaker.
Who would start Game 1 for the Yankees?
Though Schlittler is the AL Cy Young Award frontrunner, Boone said he’s “not necessarily” going to start Game 1. Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake said the club is watching Schlittler closely after he threw 193 2/3 innings this season; an extra day of rest might be a benefit.
Blake said Thursday that Fried is getting “heavy consideration” for Game 1. Fried would be on extra rest, while Schlittler would be on regular rest. Yet Blake also said there is “certainly” a chance the Yankees are overthinking it by not simply going with Schlittler.
“He’s earned the right to pitch Game 1,” Blake said.
Either way, Schlittler will start Game 1 or Game 2 in the Wild Card Series, with either Cole or Rodón waiting for a potential Game 3.
“All four of those guys are good options,” Blake said.
Rodón could also be available out of the bullpen as he waits for a potential ALDS opener.
Will Judge be a playoff factor?
He believes so. The Yankees have been vague about Judge’s status, with Boone declining to provide an estimated timetable for his recovery. Judge’s right calf strain is said to be “moderate,” and further complicating it, the injury is to the soleus muscle -- that’s more significant than the larger gastrocnemius muscle.
On Tuesday, Boone said the Yankees are "planning on him not being a part of that [Wild Card] roster."
For what it’s worth, Judge said he would “like” to be active for the postseason and that it is “the plan.” Judge has not resumed running or hitting following a platelet-poor plasma (PPP) injection in his right calf, which he received on Monday.
What are the other health concerns?
Grisham and Stanton are both “knocking on the door” to be ready for the playoffs, Boone said. Both players took live at-bats on Friday at Yankee Stadium, and have been running. Ryan Weathers tossed from the mound Friday and was said to have touched 96 mph. If he’s not on the Wild Card roster, the Yanks could add him in a later round.
As for Carlos Lagrange, the Yankees were discussing the possibility of adding him for a late look, potentially adding triple-digit heat to the bullpen. Lagrange remains in the conversation for a later round, but he won’t be on the Wild Card roster.