Aaron Boone wasn’t willing to share any final roster decisions for the Yankees’ Wild Card Series matchup with the Red Sox on Monday, but he did reveal a few Game 1 lineup choices as his club worked out at Yankee Stadium.
For one, Austin Wells will catch Max Fried. That’s not a surprise, though Ben Rice, who hit .304/.365/.578 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI over his last 44 regular season games, caught the lefty’s last start of the regular season.
Still, Boone said it wasn’t a close call picking Wells to catch.
“Because I think Wells is really good back there and he’s been really good with Fried,” Boone said when asked why. “Wellsy is actually swinging the bat really good here down the stretch as well.”
Wells, a left-handed hitter, slashed .271/.319/.553 with six homers and 15 RBI over his last 29 games.
Boone added that, with the Yankees facing left-handed Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, the righty-swinging Paul Goldschmidt would likely play first base instead of the lefty-swinging Rice. Boone expects Rice to make an impact off the bench, though.
Goldschmidt enjoyed a stellar overall season against lefties, posting a .981 OPS. However, that number falls to .676 since June 1.
Rice has a .723 OPS vs. lefties over that span.
Goldschmidt is also 2-for-15 against Crochet in his career. Rice is 1-for-8.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the game, probably between him and [Tarik] Skubal,” Goldschmidt said of Crochet. “One of them is going to win the Cy Young this year. There’s probably someone I’m leaving out. But we’ve faced him three or four times. He’s really, really good. He’s got multiple pitches and is a really smart pitcher, a competitor out there, really good stuff. The total package on the mound, so it’ll be a tough challenge. We’ll give it everything we have.”
INFIELD OPTIONS
Boone said that Jazz Chisholm Jr. “should be good” for Game 1 after taking a hit-by-pitch to his left forearm on Saturday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll start at second base.
That’s because Chisholm is a port-side swinger and the right-handed Amed Rosario is 6-for-9 with a homer against Crochet. The Yankees acquired the utilityman because he crushes lefty pitching; what better time to use him?
Rosario could also play third, though another right-handed hitter, the speedy José Caballero, spent a lot of time at third during Monday’s workout. Starting third baseman Ryan McMahon is an elite defender, but he swings lefty and hasn’t produced much at the plate.
“They could be in play tomorrow,” Boone said of Caballero and Rosario. “They’ve been really good role players for us here since we got them. I expect them to continue to play an important role.”
SCHLITTLER WOULD GET GAME 3
With Fried and Carlos Rodón set to start Games 1 and 2, Boone said Cam Schlittler would pitch a potential do-or-die Game 3.
That would be a big ask from the rookie right-hander, but Schlittler inspired confidence by recording a 2.96 ERA over his first 14 big league starts. The 24-year-old was even better over his last nine starts of the regular season, logging a 2.23 ERA, and he held the Orioles scoreless for seven innings as he struck out nine batters on Saturday.
“There was a little bit of pressure there,” Schlitter said that day with the Yankees still fighting for a division title, “but that’s something I enjoy and something I want to pitch through.”
WILL OR WON’T WARREN?
Asked what role Will Warren could play in the Wild Card series, Boone said, “We’ll see.” He added, “We’re still finalizing the roster.”
Warren threw 81 pitches on Friday, and the Yankees wouldn’t need a fourth starter until a potential ALDS appearance. So the rookie is either going to come out of the bullpen in the Wild Card round or get left off the roster.
While not official, fellow starter Luis Gil would be an easier exclusion from the roster, as he started Sunday’s regular season finale and struggled with velocity and command after a spring training lat injury truncated his season.
Alternative options for the backend of the Yankees’ pitching staff include longman Paul Blackburn and the left-handed Brent Headrick. The latter ended the season at Triple-A but was in the Bronx for Monday’s workout.
