The Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone has named Gerrit Cole to start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Guardians on Tuesday. On Thursday, Nestor Cortes is set to take the mound for Game 2, and, on Saturday, Luis Severino will be the starting pitcher for Game 3 in Progressive Field.
Cole’s selection to start Game 1 at Yankee Stadium doesn’t come as a surprise, but Boone left some room for Cortes or Severino to get the job before making his decision on Sunday.
He told:
“This is one of the areas of our club that I’m really excited about heading into the postseason. We can go match up with other teams’ pitchers. I feel like this is the best way to line it up as we embark on our goal of winning a championship.”
Cole finished the season with a 13-8 record and a 3.50 ERA (111 ERA+). He led the Majors with 33 starts and 257 strikeouts, breaking Ron Guidry’s franchise record of 248 from 1978. However, the right-hander also led the AL with 33 home runs allowed.
Cortes was 12-4 and had a 2.44 ERA (159 ERA+) in 28 starts. In 158 1/3 innings, he struck out 163 batters. Severino was great in his last game of the regular season. On Monday, he held the Rangers hitless for seven innings and finished the season with a 7-3 record and a 3.18 earned run average (ERA) in 19 starts.
Cole has done well against Cleveland this season, going 2-0 with an ERA of 1.42 in two starts. Cortes has also been good, in two starts against the Guardians, he is 1-0 with an ERA of 2.19.
Boone said, “I thought about everything, but in the end, I decided this was the way we wanted to go.”
Carpenter looks great
Matt Carpenter‘s home run swing hasn’t changed. Boone said that the infielder/outfielder hit Cortes deep during a live at-bat on Friday at Yankee Stadium. Boone also said that Carpenter “looks great” and was expected to be on the ALDS roster for the Yankees.
Carpenter hasn’t played in a major league game since August 8, when he broke his left foot. This ended his comeback season, which was shaping up to be a great story. Carpenter played 47 games during the regular season and hit .305/.412/.727 with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs.
The player told:
“I feel prepared. I’ve been able to get some at-bats here recently and have competitive at-bats just because of how I feel physically.”
Carpenter stated that when he swung the bat, his foot did not bother him. He had also five base runs and good practice sessions at the Tankees camp in Somerset, N.J. On Saturday, Carpenter worked out at the first base and the outfield to demonstrate his fitness.
Giancarlo Stanton said, “It’s been cool to see how hard he’s been working to get back; he’s going to be a huge help to us.”
Boone said that Andrew Benintendi “seems like a long shot for this round, but he is getting closer” as he recovers from right wrist surgery.
Stanton may come back to defend
Stanton hasn’t played defense since July 21 in Houston, just before the MVP of the All-Star Game was put on the disabled list with tendinitis in his left heel.
The Yankees have been afraid to put Stanton back in the outfield because they don’t want him to hurt himself again. However, now that Carpenter is likely to be limited to DH or pinch-hitting duties early in the playoffs, Stanton could get some defensive reps. Boone told:
“It’s something he and I have talked about, as long as he’s feeling good, making sure he’s getting his work out there. I don’t anticipate it early in this series, but I want it in there so it’s a potential option. G and I are on board with that.”
The Yankees’ outfielders for the ALDS are probably going to be Aaron Judge, Harrison Bader, Oswaldo Cabrera, Aaron Hicks, and maybe Stanton.
Is Boone right in naming Cole for Game 1?
