
The New York Yankees are taking a questionable approach to the start of the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins. Manager Aaron Boone elected to go with starting pitcher James Paxton in game one, which is a very interesting move considering the success Masahiro Tanaka has had in the past.
Over five postseason starts, Tanaka has only allowed five earned runs. He has a combined ERA of 1.50. However, he has struggled this season with a 4.45 ERA over 32 games, the most in his entire career. His usage this season could be a reason Boone elected to go with Paxton, who has been very impressive as of late.
While Paxton has a 3.82 ERA on the season, he’s the only Yankee with an ERA under 4.00, and his dominance as of late justifies his starting in game one.
My question is:
Did New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone make a mistake with this move, and would Tanaka be the better option to start the postseason?
Luis Severino is also available and has pitched well in his first several appearances. Keeping him rested for later games in the series is a better move considering his minimal live-action work during the regular season and marginal success over the past month.
Aside from the starting pitching woes, the bullpen is another concern for the Yankees. I imagine the Bombers will lean on their relievers and hope they can carry them through the playoffs with a slim lead. Asking for 4-to-6 innings from their relief options will be necessary if the Yankees starters aren’t able to go more than five innings.
Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, and Tommy Kahnle will all be featured on the postseason roster, and they will be expected to perform despite the hopefully run support the Yankees’ sluggers can offer.
Why Paxton is the right choice:
Over the last 28-days, Paxton is pitching lights out baseball. He has a 1.05 ERA with just three runs over four starts. He’s averaging about 6.25 innings per game, which would be a significant boost for the Yankees, chiefly if they can secure game one of the series.