Hours before opening the ALDS against the Royals, the Yankees released their lineup for the best-of-five series.
With a short series full of days off, the Bombers will have 15 position players and 11 pitchers. Let’s take a look at who made it and who didn’t.
Receivers (2): Austin Wells, José Trevino
No tough decisions here, as the Yankees have a solid catching tandem in Wells and Trevino. Look for Wells to start more this postseason, as he also became the team’s cleanup hitter as the season progressed. As the rookie calmed down at the end, Aaron Boone said he was determined to keep Wells in the four playoff holes.
Infielders (6): Oswaldo Cabrera, Ben Rice, Gleyber Torres, Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jon Berti
With Anthony Rizzo (fractured fingers) ruled out for the ALDS, Rice and the versatile Cabrera are the Yankees’ primary options at first base. Berti, another utility worker, also worked there last week.
At second, Torres has cemented himself as the team’s leadoff hitter, but his glove is a liability. Volpe is the opposite, providing Gold Glove defense at short but little at the plate.
Outfielders (6): Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Alex Verdugo, Jasson Domínguez, Trent Grisham, Duke Ellis
After weeks of debate, Verdugo is expected to start in place of Domínguez in the first match. Verdugo offers better defense after Domínguez misplayed a few balls following a late-season call-up, but he is coming off the worst offensive season of his career.
With the Yankees short on pitchers, there was room for the veteran Grisham, as well as the speedy Duke Ellis. The latter has only played three games with the Yankees this season; think of him as a designated pinch runner, which teams love to use in October.
DH (1): Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton is coming off a bounce-back season, and he’s already had success in the playoffs. The DH has a .963 OPS, 11 home runs and 24 RBIs in 27 playoff games.
Pitchers (11): Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, Clarke Schmidt, Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes, Tommy Kahnle, Ian Hamilton, Jake Cousins, Tim Hill, Tim Mayza
With Cole and Rodón set to start the first two games of the series, the third game falls to Gil and Schmidt. However, either could be used in relief in the first two games.
As expected, Cousins is ready to go after finishing the season on the injured list with a pectoral strain. The Yankees also opted to field a second left-hander, pairing Tim Mayza with standout Tim Hill.
Marcus Stroman and Mark Leiter Jr. are the most notable absences from the Yankees’ ALDS pitching staff.
