From Mike Cook:
Max Fried and Carlos Rodón are the top two New York starters heading into the postseason. Whoever slots into the third spot remains up in the air with 10 games left in the regular season.
It’ll likely be either Luis Gil, Cam Schlittler or Will Warren.
Getting a chance to further state his case, Gil did not make it through five innings in the Yankees’ 10-5 win over the Twins at Target Field on Wednesday night.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth and New York up by five, Gil gave up back-to-back singles, walked a batter and allowed a two-run single to make it 7-5. A slow walk to the dugout came after a visit from manager Aaron Boone and left Gil with a stat line that featured five runs (four earned) on nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
It’s obviously still going to be Luis Gil, with Cam Schlittler moved to the bullpen as a tremendous upgrade over Mark Leiter.
Awful performance by Gil, but at least the bullpen was actually good in this one. Camilo Doval, man, that guy has such great stuff I really think he might be something next season after an offseason of work done on him. I’m still even optimistic for Jake Bird for next season.
THIS season, though, they’re in deep doo-doo, as you got Bednar and Williams as guys you have to have a LITTLE faith in (even when Williams has been bad lately, it’s been that dicking around nonsense. You know, where he gets too cute on 3-2 pitches and shit. That is better than the other team just kicking his ass), Cruz as someone you should be somewhat happy to see coming in (I think it’s totally fair to write off the occasional disastrous outing), and then…I have no idea. I’d LIKE to think Weaver will figure his cutter out, and stop sucking. But I have absolutely ZERO faith in Mark Leiter or current Camilo Doval. In all honesty, I think for the playoffs, once waivers and all that is no longer a consideration, I truly would use Yerry over those guys.
My playoff pitching staff for the Yankees would be:
1. Fried
2. Rodon
3. Gil
Warren as mop-up guy, Game 4 starter if they somehow advance to the next round
Bednar – Closer
Williams – Pitches teh eighth
Schlittler – Fireman role, pitches most games
Cruz – 6th/7th innings
Weaver – 6th/7th innings
Hill – 6th/7th innings (sometimes 5th inning for when some of these guys stumble)
Yerry – Occasional usage
Yarbrough – Only if they need a long man
Doval – Break in case of dire emergency. In other words, the Tim Mayaza role on last year’s team
Leiter and Blackburn to the bench.
Featured image is Trent Grisham’s 33rd home run of the season. Man, I don’t want them giving Grisham some big contract, but it’s going to be hard imagining this team without his 33 home runs next season.