WILD HYPE STARTS WITH STARTER
BOSTON — The Yankees will have a starting pitcher Wednesday night when they face the A’s in the AL wild-card game at Yankee Stadium, The Post has learned.
Analytical departments haven’t yet devised a way to eliminate a pitcher from throwing the first pitch of the game, so Aaron Boone will scribble somebody’s name on the lineup card.
Who that is remained a mystery Sunday when the regular season ended with a sloppy 10-2 loss to the Red Sox in front of 36,201 at Fenway Park.
Wednesday’s winner faces the AL East champion Red Sox in the best-of-five ALDS that opens Friday night at Fenway Park and the loser sulks into winter.
While the temptation to set up the rotation with an eye on Boston certainly couldn’t be dismissed, it wasn’t discussed at length.
“Very little, there is no tomorrow Wednesday. You pour [in] everything you can and try to win that game,’’ Boone said. “I guess there is always a big picture involved and we are in this thing to win the whole thing but first things first and pouring everything we have into winning Wednesday and making that decision on what gives us the best chance to win.’’
Boone met with general manager Brian Cashman, his staff and support staffs following Saturday’s win over the Red Sox to exchange ideas about who should start.
Boone said he won’t use a reliever to start the game, a strategy the A’s are likely to employ.
According to Boone, the Yankees were closer to having a starter in mind on Sunday than they were Saturday but weren’t ready to announce the identity.
“We are closer to a decision, don’t have one for you today, but in my mind I am getting a lot closer which way I want to go with it,’’ Boone said of choosing from the field of J.A. Happ, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka. “If I get to the final decision [Sunday], I will have the conversations I need to have with players and go from there.’’
Asked if he would have a decision Monday, the day before the A’s and Yankees will work out at the Stadium, Boone said, “Maybe.’’
Could the Yankees be waiting until as late as possible to name a starter so the A’s can’t concentrate on one pitcher since more time and effort would be required to dissect three instead of one?
“I am sure they are diving in and doing their homework and will be prepared whichever way we go,’’ Boone said. “I am sure they have worked through a couple of different things who we are considering, obviously knowing who will likely be on our roster and full pitching staff and getting ready.’’
While Yankee fans — and bettors — anxiously await who Boone decides on, the A’s haven’t announced who will open the game for them. Reliever Liam Hendriks is considered the leading candidate. Hendriks, a 29year-old right-hander from Australia, opened eight games for the A’s, and appeared in 25. He worked the first inning against the Yankees on Sept. 4 (5-1 Yankees’ win) and retired Brett Gardner, Giancarlo Stanton and An- drew McCutchen.
Happ didn’t get a decision in his only start against the A’s this year, allowing one run in six innings. In 11 career games (nine starts) against the A’s, Happ is 4-1 with a 3.47 ERA. Severino was 1-1 with a 6.23 ERA in two starts this year and 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA in four career starts against the A’s. Tanaka didn’t face the A’s this season and is 3-2 with a 2.53 ERA in five career games.
No matter the choice, Boone believes he is choosing from strength instead of settling for somebody.
“Whatever way we go, we feel like it is capable of really working out positive,’’ Boone said. “I lean on everyone and take in all the information and make the best decision. I view it that we are working from a position of strength.’’