Jameson Taillon could start Sunday for Yankees in regular-season finale
Yankees starting pitcher Jameson Taillon is taken out by manager Aaron Boone, right, as catcher Gary Sanchez looks on during the third inning of a game against the Blue Jays in Toronto on Tuesday. Credit: AP/Frank Gunn
It didn’t look as if Jameson Taillon would be able to walk back onto a big-league mound again this season after he walked off the one in Toronto in the third inning on Tuesday with continuing ankle soreness.
But Taillon threw a bullpen session at Yankee Stadium on Friday that went "really well," manager Aaron Boone said, and now Taillon is a possibility to start the Yankees’ regular-season finale on Sunday against Tampa Bay.
"He was sharp," Boone said. "He looks really good. He feels really good. Most importantly, his arm and everything’s good, but the ankle is responding. There’s no favoring it. He’s letting it rip. His mechanics are really sound. So I would have to say that the bullpen he just threw was very encouraging."
Taillon, out since Sept. 7 with a partially torn ankle tendon, returned Tuesday and gutted out 2 1⁄3 innings before he had to leave.
Depending on the Yankees’ standing in the AL wild-card race, Boone could start Taillon on Sunday or at least open with him if he can go only a few innings.
"I think that’s very much in play, yes," Boone said. "He’d start the game. So I guess we could quibble on opener/starter. What’s the mark of demarcation? He’s in play. We’ll see how he comes out of today’s pen, how he is tomorrow, where we’re at as far as that game on Sunday, and make a call."
Gerrit Cole also has said he could pitch on three days’ rest if needed on Sunday, but the Yankees would prefer to save him for Tuesday’s wild-card game, assuming they get that far.
Higgy starts again
Kyle Higashioka started his third consecutive game at catcher. Boone said Gary Sanchez will be back behind the plate for Saturday afternoon’s game and that the decision was based on not wanting to start one catcher in both games with the quick turnaround.
Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.
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