It is finally here, the New York Yankees will face off against the Toronto Blue Jays on Opening Day. The game is scheduled for 1:05 PM, but rain is expected in the forecast, which could cause minor delays.
The Yankees retained DJ LeMahieu and added a bevy of starting pitchers this past off-season who are to compete for a championship. Having missed out on the opportunity to play in the final series for over a decade now, general manager Brian Cashman believes his team has what it takes to reach end-game. However, durability and health remain a major issue, especially for the Yankees losing multiple players the spring, including relief pitchers Zack Britton and Justin Wilson.
Luckily, the majority of their injuries will return in the next few weeks, a positive sign that nobody sustained any significant issues that will keep them out for the entire year. Eventually, they will also return Luis Severino in the late summer, which should provide some reinforcements.
Nonetheless, here’s a look at the Opening Day lineup, and it is a thing of beauty.
New York Yankees Opening Day lineup:
1) DJ LeMahieu
2) Aaron Judge
3) Aaron Hicks
4) Giancarlo Stanton
5) Gleyber Torres
6) Gio Urshela
7) Gary Sanchez
8) Jay Bruce
9) Clint Frazier
Pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole Vs. Hyun Jin Ryu
Personally, I love how the Yankees set up the end of their order, putting Gary Sanchez and Jay Bruce one after another. This provides them with a significant spark in the slugging department, so they can drive in runs via the long ball instead of having contacted hitters.
With Gleyber Torres and Gio Urshela capable of getting on base routinely, Sanchez and Bruce will be tasked with hitting home runs, something they’re both known for. In the ninth spot, they have Clint Frazier, who is earning his first opportunity as a starter right out of the gate.
After over a year of tremendous struggle and resilience, we have finally reached a full MLB season. With vaccinations rolling out at an astronomical rate, we might be able to enjoy Yankee stadium in its entirety later on in the season, and that moment will truly be special.