Yankees may shuffle rotation — again
Masahiro Tanaka is listed as the Yankees’ starter Wednesday against the Twins at Yankee Stadium, but there is a slight chance ace Luis Severino could work that game.
“He could pitch Friday or he could pitch Wednesday, but right now he is scheduled for Friday,’’ Joe Girardi said of Severino. “If he starts on Wednesday, that would be three starts and he would be available on the final weekend. Right now we are planning on Tanaka on Wednesday, but I could change my mind.’’
If Severino starts Friday in Toronto, he would get two starts before the end of the regular season.
With the Yankees holding a four-game lead over the Twins for the top AL wildcard spot, they would want to line up Severino for the Oct. 3 start against whatever team qualifies. Using Severino twice before the postseason starts would make it easier to line him up for the Yankees’ first postseason game since 2015.
Initially, the Yankees had CC Sabathia slated to start Sunday, but following Sonny Gray’s start last Tuesday against the Rays at Citi Field, the Yankees began discussing a way to keep the veteran lefty off the Rogers Centre turf this coming weekend. So, Sabathia was switched to Tuesday. Jaime Garcia opens the Twins series Monday night at Yankee Stadium, facing a team he pitched one game for earlier this season.
Clint Frazier had a tough day in Sunday’s 6-4 loss to the Orioles. In addition to striking out in his only two at-bats, the left fielder battled a blazing sun in the second inning when
Chris Davis’ opposite-field fly sliced back and hit his glove while he was jumping and fell to the warning track.
“I just misjudged it,’’ Frazier said of the ball that was ruled a double. Davis scored the game’s first run on Aus
tin Hays’ two-out single. “I misjudged the placement of the ball and where I was at the time.’’
After holding hitters to four hits in 40 at-bats with runners in scoring position, Yankees pitchers gave up two hits — including Tim
Beckham’s three-run homer — with runners in scoring position Sunday. That 6-for-47 (.128) mark is still very good. Not having pitched since Wednesday when he was lifted for Aroldis
Chapman in the eighth inning against the Rays at Citi Field, Dellin Betances worked a perfect eighth inning Sunday.
Aaron Hicks hit off a batting tee and soft tosses and did some throwing on the field Sunday.
“Maybe two days,’’ the switch-hitting outfielder said when asked when he might take full batting practice.
Counting Sunday’s game, the Yankees had 14 games remaining and Hicks believes there is enough time to play in regular-season games. He has been on the DL since Sept. 3 with a strained left oblique.