MINNEAPOLIS – The Yankees punched their ticket to the postseason on Monday when they beat the Twins in their series opener at Target Field.
It’s the eighth time in nine years under manager Aaron Boone that they’ve reached the playoffs. The Yankees could go through as the American League’s top Wild Card, but the AL East title remains in sight.
It’s probably no surprise to see the Yankees in the playoffs again this year. After all, they’ve spent the entire season in either first or second place in the ultra-competitive AL East.
But any team that goes three months with its captain and best hitter on the IL has already overcome more adversity than most teams deal with in any given season. 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.
3B: Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario
SS: George Lombard Jr., José Caballero
OF: Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones, Aaron Judge, Heliot Ramos
DH: Ben Rice
SP: Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole
RP: David Bednar, Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, Tim Hill, Ryan Yarbrough, Clarke Schmidt, Michael Fulmer, Ryan Weathers, Will Warren
The Yankees have some injury concerns to settle before they finalize their 26-man postseason roster; Chisholm expects to be back from a sprained wrist by the Rays series next week, while Trent Grisham is questionable to resume playing by the end of the regular season.
Some choices could also depend on their opponent; for example, the Red Sox figure to stack left-handers against the Yankees in a potential AL Wild Card Series, which would increase the reliance on platoon-heavy players like Goldschmidt, Ramos and Rosario.
When does the postseason begin?
Should the Yankees wind up in the AL Wild Card Series, it would begin on Sept. 29. The AL Division Series begins on Oct. 3.
Who would the Yankees play if the season ended today?
At present, it would 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.
Can they still win the American League East?
Yes. The Yankees are 3 1/2 games behind the Rays with 12 remaining. They have four head-to-head games on deck beginning Sept. 22 at Yankee Stadium, including a separate-admission doubleheader to begin the series.
Tampa Bay currently leads the season series 6-3, which means the Yankees would need to sweep to take the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Who would start Game 1 for the Yankees?
This could spur some debate as the assignment moves closer, but Schlittler is currently lined up to start Game 1 of a potential AL Wild Card Series. Not only did he dominate Boston in last year’s playoffs, but Schlittler is the likely AL Cy Young Award winner and could pick up some MVP votes as well.
Here’s a good general rule of thumb: give the ball to the guy with the 1.95 ERA and take your chances.
It remains to be seen how the Yankees will handle Cole – he has the title of ace and is the staff leader, but he also has been bitten by the long ball of late, surrendering seven homers in his last two starts.
Fried and Carlos Rodón have dealt with injuries but are rounding into form at the right time. Warren will be an interesting swingman, as he showed while piggybacking with Fried during the Padres series in San Diego.
How ready is the Captain?
Judge bypassed a Minor League rehab assignment as he returned from a fractured right rib, believing it would be more useful to get his at-bats against top-flight pitching.
He entered Monday with three hits in 17 at-bats with nine strikeouts. Judge dispelled concerns, though, when he hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning, his first since coming off the IL, in the 8-3 win over the Twins. Judge has also been playing the field, which is important given the Yanks’ roster construction.
Even if Judge is at less than 100%, they will take their chances with the three-time MVP over anyone else.
What are the other health concerns?
Grisham has been doing some running, but it will be a close call to get him back in time for the end of the regular season. His return would create another decision, as Jones has been taking advantage of his playing time.
The Yankees seem confident Chisholm will be back soon, but if there’s any delay, Anthony Volpe could figure into the picture.
Weathers could be back by the end of the regular season, and while they haven’t closed the door on Giancarlo Stanton, it seems unlikely.