10/01/26 08:20:00
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10/01 05:01 CDT Having bashed Boston without Judge, Yankees turn attention to
AL Division Series vs. pesky Rays
Having bashed Boston without Judge, Yankees turn attention to AL Division
Series vs. pesky Rays
By RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- Having bashed Boston without Aaron Judge, the New York
Yankees face a far different task when they face the pesky Tampa Bay Rays in an
AL Division Series starting Saturday,
Riding powerful pitching led by Cam Schlitter and Max Fried, Yankees batters
broke though just enough against Red Sox starters and beat up Boston's bullpen
in sweeping their rival in the Wild Card Series.
"We're going to continue to rely on amazing starting pitching like we have all
year," Ben Rice said after Wednesday night's 9-2 win. "Especially in the
postseason, that's what you need."
Schlittler and Fried combined to go 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA against the Red Sox
with 16 strikeouts and two walks in 12 1/3 innings.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone must decide whether to open against the Rays with
Gerrit Cole, who was set to start a Game 3 against Boston, or Carlos Rodn.
"Obviously, Gerrit's lined up for that. Carlos is very much in play for that,"
Boone said. "We have a ton of confidence in both guys. I think they're both
throwing the ball really well."
Boone said it was possible Schlittler, Fried, Cole and Rodn all will start
against the Rays. New York's starters led the major leagues with a 3.30 ERA.
"That's been the biggest strength for us throughout the year," Boone said. "It
sustained us. It got us through some difficult times. And I feel like they're
all in a good place right now."
New York's best-of-five series against the Rays has an extra off day between
Games 1 and 2, allowing Schlittler to start the second game and come back on
normal rest for a Game 5.
Whether Judge will return to the lineup remains unclear.
Sidelined since Sept. 16 by a strained right calf, Judge has resumed hitting.
"Saturday's a long ways away, but I'm doing everything I can, all morning,
night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go," Judge
said. "So I want to be in there. So we'll see what happens."
Tampa Bay won the season series 7-6 en route to an AL-best 98-64 record, their
runners often spinning around the bases like a roulette ball going around the
wheel. The Rays were sixth in the major leagues with a .326 on-base percentage
and tied for second with 164 stolen bases.
Rays batters struck out the fewest times in the major leagues at 1,145, an
average of about two per game fewer than the Yankees.
Because they won the AL East and had a bye, the Rays will enter the series with
five days' rest --- which some in baseball is convinced causes rust.
"The alternative is playing three must-win games or two out of three. I'll take
where we're at," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Rays left-handed pitchers held lefty batters to a .205 average during the
regular season. Yankees lefty batters hit .500 (11 for 22) against Boston
southpaws.
"They faced so many guys for months there where we were very left-handed, where
in the fifth inning every day it was one lefty and then another one because
that's how they attack us," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "So I'd like to
think some of that familiarity and reps and all that prepared us well."
New York was second in the majors with 223 home runs, three behind Houston.
What was often a home-run-or-bust batting order diversified in the Wild Card
Series.
Homegrown players --- Rice, Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr., Anthony Volpe
and Austin Wells --- combined for 11 RBIs.
"The young guys have done a tremendous job," outfielder Cody Bellinger said.
"It's been fun to watch. It's fun to watch them grow and they've been a huge
part of our success."
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