The Yankees are heading back to the postseason after missing it a year ago.
Now that they have clinched at least a wild-card spot, the Yankees can start preparing for what they hope is a deep October run. While they are still hoping to clinch the AL East — and one of the top two seeds in the American League — we can start projecting who will make (and miss) the team’s first postseason round.
If/when the Yankees clinch the division this projection could change, but for now, here’s our first crack at predicting New York’s postseason roster…
Starting Lineup (9)
C – Austin Wells
1B – Anthony Rizzo
2B – Gleyber Torres
SS – Anthony Volpe
3B – Jazz Chisholm Jr.
LF – Alex Verdugo
CF – Aaron Judge
RF – Juan Soto
DH – Giancarlo Stanton
Like we saw for most of the season, this is the likeliest starting lineup we’ll see in the playoffs. But, Aaron Boone loves to keep the lineup fluid especially when it comes to the outfield and DH spots.
The team likes Verdugo and his glove will give him most starts especially against right-handers but against southpaws, we may see some changes.
Stanton may get a game off against right-handers, allowing the Yankees to play Judge in the DH spot — or have Wells DH to give Jose Trevino a start behind the plate — but I expect Judge and his plus-defense to start in the outfield most if not every postseason game this year.
Starting Rotation (4)
RHP Gerrit Cole
LHP Carlos Rodon
RHP Luis Gil
LHP Nestor Cortes
All eyes are on the Yankees’ starting rotation. With six legit starters, they can only use three maybe four in a best-of-five series (if they capture one of the top two seeds). That will leave two either left off or put in the bullpen.
Cole and Rodon are locks to pitch Games 1 and 2, which leaves Game 3 up in the air. Cortes has really pitched well down the stretch, and Gil is on the short list of AL Rookie of the Year candidates so they are likely the safer bets to start a game if necessary.
I think it’s clear Marcus Stroman will not start in this first series, especially with his recent move to the bullpen. And Clarke Schmidt is still working his way back from missing most of the season due to injury.
Bench Players (5)
C – Jose Trevino
IF – Oswaldo Cabrera
IF – Jon Berti
OF – Jasson Dominguez
OF – Trent Grisham
The bench will be the usual cast of characters from the regular season. Berti’s return from injury gives the Yankees a viable fielder who can play the infield (mostly at 3B) and is a speed threat. Cabrera is the go-to backup first baseman while Dominguez is the preferred outfield option alongside Verdugo.
I see Grisham being added as another veteran outfield option whose defense is better than Dominguez’s.
Bullpen (8)
RHP – Luke Weaver
RHP – Clay Holmes
RHP – Jake Cousins
RHP – Tommy Kahnle
RHP – Marcus Stroman
RHP – Clarke Schmidt
RHP – Ian Hamilton
LHP – Tim Hill
Here’s where things get interesting. Weaver has become the unofficial closer for the Yankees but Holmes will still be used in certain situations, despite most fans wanting him off the roster. The usual arms like Cousins, Kahnle and Hamilton are virtual locks — barring injuries.
Hill has become Boone’s go-to lefty specialist and Stroman feels like a great option to be a long man out of the ‘pen who could potentially piggyback off a starter if needed. Schmidt is in the same boat as Stroman but his inclusion says more about the ineffectiveness of arms like Mark Leiter Jr. and the injuries to Scott Effross and Cody Poteet. Although Poteet was just added to the 40-man roster so the Yankees may have some plans for him.
