It’s been just a few years for the reason that Yankees made a run within the playoffs, having been knocked out within the wild-card sport in Boston final 12 months after they barely made the postseason and limped into the sport in opposition to the Crimson Sox, with Gerrit Cole pitching with a hamstring harm.
This time, they enter because the No. 2 seed within the American League, having withstood a foul stretch that noticed their lead within the AL East drop from 15 ¹/₂ video games to three ¹/₂.
And so they’ll face both a sizzling Guardians crew that ended up working away with the AL Central or a Rays crew that has usually given the Yankees bother.
“Tampa [Bay] we all know rather well, and so they know us effectively,” Aaron Boone stated after Wednesday’s regular-season finale at Texas. “Cleveland has been one of many actually good tales, with their younger roster coming of age. They dominated the Central down the stretch. They pitch effectively, have an elite nearer, good beginning pitching, they’re adept at placing the ball in play and athletic. Hope these groups beat up one another just a little bit.”
That begins Friday when the Rays go to Cleveland for the beginning of the best-of-three wild-card collection.
“Now it begins for actual,’’ Boone stated.
The Yankees dominated the Guardians this season, profitable 5 of six conferences — together with all three video games in The Bronx in April. The groups met once more in Cleveland in July.
And there’s the pure inclination to play any crew from the AL Central within the playoffs, because the Yankees are among the many groups which have fared effectively in opposition to that division winner — whether or not it’s from Cleveland or, particularly, Minnesota.
However the Guardians have been among the many greatest groups within the sport over the second half (46-26) and went 24-10 to shut out the season.
With the youngest roster within the majors, the Guardians won't be affected by the historical past of failure within the postseason.
Triston McKenzie was improbable in Cleveland’s lone win over the Yankees, who've usually dealt with former Cy Younger award winner Shane Bieber effectively.
And the Guardians’ lineup, led by Jose Ramirez, has some newcomers in Steven Kwan and Josh Naylor. They’ve additionally gotten contributions from ex-Mets Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario.
Cleveland additionally options one thing most groups don’t as of late: a dominant nearer in Emmanuel Clase, who completed the season with a microscopic WHIP of .729. He’s certainly one of three members of the Cleveland bullpen to have a WHIP underneath 1.000.
Regardless of their strengths, it’s exhausting to check a state of affairs by which the Guardians beat the Yankees in a best-of-five collection — although not inconceivable.
Given the Rays’ historical past in opposition to the Yankees, a Yankees loss to Tampa Bay is actually believable.
The Yankees went 11-8 versus Tampa Bay this season.
Wander Franco is again from a hamate bone fracture in his proper wrist that stored him out for 2 months. He’s hit effectively since his return, however has homered simply as soon as for the reason that harm.
Tampa Bay’s different offensive threats are identified effectively to the Yankees, from Randy Arozarena to Yandy Diaz.
And Tyler Glasnow getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure solely makes the Rays’ pitching employees stronger, as he’ll be teamed with Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen.
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