Bad weather might rain on Yankees' 3-man rotation plan
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone at batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Aaron Boone had said last week as the Yankees wrapped up their regular season in Arlington, Texas, that the Yankees intended to use a three-man rotation during the American League Division Series, regardless of opponent.
But going with Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes and Luis Severino — their order for Games 1-3 — was predicated on the games being played as scheduled.
That schedule would have allowed Cole to pitch Game 4, should it be necessary, on regular rest and Cortes coming back on short rest (three days) for a potential Game 5.
But those plans very well could get disrupted with rain and thunderstorms threatening Thursday night’s Game 2. If Game 2 gets bumped to Friday (both teams were under the impression it would be a 2 p.m. start), should the series go the full five games, the teams will play four straight days — Friday through Monday. Game 5 would be Monday night at the Stadium and the starting nod in that rainout scenario would possibly go to Jameson Taillon, who made the 26-man ALDS roster as a bullpen arm.
“I think with J-Mo [Taillon], you could see him in some different roles where it could be length, could be a big inning in a [high leverage] lane,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 4-1 victory in Game 1. “We’ve got weather coming possibly Thursday that may alter things. So you just don’t know.”
Taillon, who went 14-5 with a 3.91 ERA in 32 starts this season, said he was on board with any role the Yankees had in mind.
“I mean, I’m pretty [realistic],” Taillon said. “I know the type of pitchers that Sevy, Nestor and Gerrit are, so us going with three starters . . . I knew where I stood. I didn’t need to be talked into it. That’s kind of who I am and what I’m about — just any way to help the team win.”
Which, again, could include the chance of a Game 5 start.
“I’ve looked at the schedule a little bit, I know that’s definitely a possibility,” Taillon said. “But for today, I’m a reliever and that’s all I can focus on.”
Not counting his chickens
Boone, as any manager would, rejected the premise that winning Game 1 could “set the tone” for the best-of-five series.
“You always hope that,” Boone said Wednesday. “But whether we won or lost [Tuesday], we're in the turn-the-page business. You enjoy that. A playoff victory is a big deal, and especially in Game 1 of a series, to grab it is big. But today you move on from it. And we've got a workout today, and now it's on to the next one. You know, series, playoffs, can go all sorts of different ways. You try and rack up wins as you can.”
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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