While the Yankees are still trying to win the American League East and earn a bye in the playoffs, they’ve also started planning for an appearance in the Wild Card round.
Aaron Boone, whose club entered Tuesday two games back of the Blue Jays for the division lead and with a three-game lead for the top Wild Card spot, said that Carlos Rodón will make his final start of the regular season this Thursday on normal rest. Doing so would allow him to start a potential Game 2 in the Wild Card round on an extra day of rest.
Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, which Max Fried would start for the Yankees, is set for Sept. 30, while Game 2 will take place Oct. 1. Entering Tuesday, the Yankees were slated to host the Red Sox in the series.
Rodón has a 5.74 ERA over three starts and 15.2 innings against Boston this year, but he has enjoyed his best season as a Yankee, going 17-9 with a 3.04 ERA overall. His 25.9 K% ranked 17th among all qualified starters as of Tuesday morning.
Rodón also has a 2.67 ERA over his last 13 starts.
With two southpaws lined up for the first two games of the Yankees’ potential Wild Card appearance, the team’s biggest question revolves around who would start a do-or-die Game 3 on Oct 2.
The choices are the erratic Lui Gil, who has postseason experience after pitching in the ALCS and World Series last year, and rookies Cam Schlittler and Will Warren. Whoever doesn’t get a rotation spot could end up in the postseason bullpen.
“I feel good about our five guys,” Boone said Tuesday afternoon with the Yankees needing an evening win over the White Sox to clinch a postseason berth. “I feel good about any one of them starting a game, but we’ll see. As we get closer, as this week unfolds, we’ll start to have a better idea and a better feel of how we want to set things up.”
Warren was initially lined up to start on Thursday, but he said he now plans on starting Friday. The right-hander added that the Yankees haven’t talked to him about working out of the bullpen before the regular season ends, but it’s something he’d be comfortable doing in the playoffs.
“I just want to win,” said Warren, who has only made one big league relief appearance. “I’m confident wherever I end up.”
Warren has struggled mightily against the Red Sox this season, posting a 9.42 ERA over 14.1 innings. He is 8-8 with a 4.35 ERA over 32 starts.
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