Yankees Postseason Pitching Preview
The current best pitching rotation in the American League is not in Houston. It’s in New York.
The Yankees starters have posted a 2.59 ERA since September 1, the best in the AL, (second best in MLB) and in this homer-happy season, they have the lowest rate of HR/9.
Luis Severino has been lights out in his first 2 Starts, allowing just 5 hits and striking out 13 over 9 innings. He may well be the Game 1 starter.
James Paxton has gone 10–0 with a 2.25 ERA Since Aug. 2, with the big left-handed striking out better than a batter per inning and limiting opponents to a .167 batting average and a .514 OPS.
Masahiro Tanaka is 8–3 with a 3.10 ERA in 16 starts at home, and 3–5 with a 6.16 ERA in 15 starts away from the Bronx. Toss out two of Tanaka’s abysmal starts against the Red Sox — June 29 in London and July 25 at Fenway Park, when he permitted a combined 18 earned runs in four innings — his road ERA drops to a more manageable 4.36.
Paxton, Severino and Tanaka will start in the American League Division Series. Order likely to be determined by opponent and location. If the ALDS gets to a Game 4, the Yankees could utilize an opener, which would likely be Chad Green, with JA Happ pitching out of the bullpen as the bulk reliever. Happ’s first time in the role was a success, he gave up 1 run on 4 hits and had 6 Ks in 5 innings.
The bullpen was been very reliable this season, especially in big series where the team needed to get in track. CC Sabathia will also be in the pen, and Aaron Boone says he may go multiple innings. CC will join fellow starter JA Happ pitching in relief, and boosting a group that has been very good all season.
The Yankees are 25–0 when Adan Ottavino, Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman all pitch in the same game. If the starters can get you 4–5 innings with a lead, that bullpen is the recipe for a win.
