Then there\u2019s the bullpen, which could add Jax or Seymour to an already talented crew. Closer Bryan Baker, once an inconsistent middle-inning arm for Baltimore, has blossomed into an intimidating closer with triple-digit heat and a nasty changeup. Kevin Kelly has been among the league\u2019s best setup men with a 2.44 ERA in 73.2 innings. Reports indicate that the Rays could welcome back Tyler Wells and Garrett Cleavinger, both of whom have missed time with injury. Add lefty Cam Booser to the mix, and you have a good idea of some of the arms the Yankees will see in the later innings.<\/p>\n
The fruits of dispatching Boston early are borne in how the Yankees can set up their staff for this series. Gerrit Cole was the presumptive Game 3 starter for New York\u2014he\u2019ll likely start Game 1. There will then be a day between Game 1 and Game 2, giving an additional day of rest for Schlittler and Fried, who I expect to be deployed afterward. Since there will be a full four days between Game 1 and a hypothetical Game 4, the Yankees could start Cole again if they so choose and reserve Carlos Rod\u00f3n for a piggyback role in case a starter can\u2019t go deep.<\/p>\n
The staggered scheduling of games promises to redound to the benefit of both pitching staffs, who likely won\u2019t run their bullpens ragged with the first three games taking place across five days. As such, the focus in the series to me will be the lineups. Which team can snatch the initiative and give their pitchers a lead with which to work? Who can put up a crooked number\u2014like the ones the Yankees pasted onto Boston\u2014to dent opposing morale?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s with that question that we address the Aaron Judge of it all. Judge was vocal about his desire to play<\/a> in the Wild Card Series, but ultimately was left off the roster. Instead, Giancarlo Stanton was given a spot, though he went unused. The full nature of Judge\u2019s quad strain is still a little iffy, but bringing him back was wishful thinking against Boston, and I believe will be wishful thinking against Tampa, too. At any rate, this lineup has been clicking\u2014which gives Boone every excuse to wait until they\u2019re confident Judge can be his fully healthy self, rather than the limited version which probably couldn\u2019t play the outfield as it stands. I expect the Yankees will not bring Judge onto the ALDS roster\u2014and if they do, he will see limited playing time, if any.<\/p>\n Will Aaron Judge make an appearance in the ALDS?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Yankees move on to the ALDS to face Tampa after dominating the Red Sox in a two-game sweep. <\/p>\n Do you think the Yankees captain makes the roster for the Division Series? <\/p>\n Closes in 2 days \u2022 144 total votesView results<\/p>\n Yes, he’ll start at least onceYes, he’ll pinch hitNot this timeRec 3CommentsThin Stroke Comment Icon BubbleReplyRead 21 replies<\/p>\n For the best-of-three series with Boston, the Yankees got aggressive with their roster, constructing a super-bench and bringing only ten pitchers. With a best-of-five series on the horizon, the Yankees will probably add another arm or two, but I expect them to continue to carry a deep bench, especially if Judge remains sidelined. Boone was able to roll out two very different-looking lineups against Boston, and both produced. Just as the Rays thrive on changing things up and preventing their opponent from getting comfortable, the Yankees can and should continue to weaponize their depth in the same way.<\/p>\n Whose lineup is better? On paper, you can make a compelling argument for either side. One thing I\u2019ll note, though, is the relative inexperience in the postseason for Tampa Bay as compared to the Yankees, who feature plenty of guys who have become postseason mainstays. Caminero has two postseason plate appearances in his career\u2014Aranda has one. Richie Palacios and Victor Mesa Jr., two toolsy bats whom the Rays have relied upon for much of the latter half of the year, are playing October ball for the first time. Cedric Mullins appeared on two Orioles teams that combined to win zero postseason games.<\/p>\n The only hitter with an extensive October resum\u00e9 is D\u00edaz\u2014who has a .561 OPS in 26 career playoff games. Past results don\u2019t predict future outcomes, but we have seen plenty of teams with minimal collective postseason appearances flame out quickly. There will be lots of pressure on Tampa to prove they can hang.<\/p>\n One last thing: the last time New York faced Tampa in the postseason, they did so during the pandemic, in an absolutely vacant Petco Park in San Diego. This year, the series starts in Tropicana Field, where a healthy contingent of Yankee fans has always made their presence felt. This could undercut the Rays\u2019 home-field advantage and give the Bombers an important energy source to siphon in the first two games. The Trop is not a beloved building in these pages, but if the Yankees can make it a second home field, the Rays will need to be that much more perfect.<\/p>\n For those reasons, I believe the Yankees will win this ALDS in four games. I think it could stand as another example of how participating in the Wild Card Series can help a team more than a first-round bye\u2014provided they ace the test, which the Yankees did. From my perspective, New York\u2019s pitching staff has more talent, and their lineup more experience. I think these factors will prevent us from seeing the complacent, often sluggish Yankees who bowed out early last October and were vanquished by the Dodgers in the previous Fall Classic. So long as they continue to cash in on their opportunities and mitigate mistakes, they\u2019ll be able to unseat the AL\u2019s top seed.<\/p>\n But you know what they say: you have to play the games. Game 1 of the Divsion Series<\/a> is slated for Saturday, with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST.<\/p>\n Who wins the Yankees\/Rays ALDS matchup?<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Check out Jeremy’s preview here<\/a> and the start times here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Closes in 3 days \u2022 120 total votesView results<\/p>\n![\"danirmohr\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/lsxmhYXN1B-a9de2f1d-fb77-4503-baca-628d4419f3aa.png\"\/)
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