The Yankees always have the X-factor to rescue them. Aaron Judge carried on them through the slide in August. Rookie Oswaldo Cabrera took it over in early September. Anthony Rizzo and Harrison Bader are joining the league of this season’s superstars as they near the playoffs. But there is someone else who may be the Yankees’ X-factor in the postseason.
In August, the New York Yankees suffered their worst slump since 1991. When analysts began to write off the team struggling with a massive injury blow, their turnaround began. From a 9-20 record between August 2 and September 3, the Yankees bounced back to 16-7 in the next 25 days. After eight wins in nine games in the last 10 days, they became the AL East division champions on Tuesday in Toronto.
The Yankees comprehensively decimated the Blue Jays 5-2 on Tuesday night and now occupy the second overall place in the Americal League after the Houston Astros. This makes them eligible to go straight to the Division Series and skip the Wild Card round.
Despite their unceremonious struggle since the All-Star break, the Yankees are still one of the most likely teams to win the World Series this year. They have a strong lineup and a deadly pitching staff. If they hit their stride at the right time, it’s hard to see any other playoff team beating them in a series this year.
But the Yankees need their best players, most of which are well rested through injuries, to step up and help the team do well in the 2022 MLB playoffs. There is the spotlight on the Yankees and their stars must justify it. Because of this, their best pitcher could be the Yankees’ X-factor. as they head into the playoffs. Let’s find out who is he and why he will be so important to New York’s success in the playoffs.
Gerrit Cole is currently the best pitcher on the Yankees’ roster. As the team heads into the postsaeson, he has a very big role to play. Cole’s strong 2022 season has once again proven that he is one of the best pitchers in the league, and he will be asked to pitch in some big games for New York in the playoffs. How far the Yankees go in the playoffs will depend on how well the pitcher does when things get tough.
Cole has done a lot of great things this season that aptly make him the X-factor for playoffs. But there have been some loopholes that he has to cement. His ERA is 3.49, which isn’t bad, but it’s the fourth season in a row that Cole’s ERA has gone up. Cole has been hard to hit for most of his career, but that hasn’t been true for most of this season.
Wandy Peralta, Michael King, and Albert Abreu are all on the injured list right now. Frankie Montas, who hasn’t done well as a starting pitcher for the Yankees, is also out right now. That makes it more important for the starters to do well, especially Cole, who will be in charge.
Cole’s biggest problem has been that he can’t stop his opponents from hitting home runs. This season, he has given up 31 home runs, which is more than any other pitcher in the American League. In the playoffs, that will have to change if he emerges as the Yankees’ X-factor.
Cole hasn’t had a great postseason record. He had troubles even while playing for the Yankees in the postseason briefly. In 2020, he started Game 5 of the ALDS, which New York lost to the Tampa Bay Rays. But he shouldn’t be blamed for it. In 2021, the pitcher had a harrowing game the Boston Red Sox. A win in that game was a must for the Yankees to get a Wild Card berth. However, Cole lasted only for two innings despite it being a do-or-die game for his team.
But that was just one bad side. In 2020, Cole has had some great games, like the one that gave the Yankees a Wild Card slot after beating the Cleveland Guardians. However, Cole’s terrible game against Boston could be on his mind all this year. But the Yankees cannot afford for their ace to be unavailable when they need him the most.
The good news is that New York won’t have to play a “win or go home” game right away. This will give Cole more time to get used to the playoffs. That will be very important because the Yankees’ bullpen is still dealing with a lot of injuries, and their pitching staff won’t be fully healthy in the playoffs.
When it comes to the playoffs, New York absolutely must have Cole as their top pitcher. Although the rotation that follows him is very good, the lineup has its ups and downs, and the bullpen is not in tip-top shape. The Yankees’ success in the postseason will be directly proportional to how well Cole plays in their remaining games.
Cole being called the Yankees’ X-factor might seem strange, but in the playoffs, you need your best players to be at their best.
New York needs Cole to step up and be their best starter now more than ever. He definitely has what it takes, but when it has mattered most for the Yankees, he was often not up to the expectation.
However, Cole has the ability to prove his mettle and could emerge as the Yankees’ X-factor in the postseason.
Do you see Cole becoming the Yankees’ X-factor? Who else do you think can become the Yankees’ X-factor in the playoffs?
