Lindor learning from watching Yanks’ Gregorius
CLEVELAND — Francisco Lindor is considered by many to be the premier shortstop in the American League. At 23 he has been an All-Star the past two seasons and is in his third year.
Yet, like most of the great ones, he watches others at his position hoping to pick up something. So, when Lindor can, he watches Didi Gregorius.
“I know he has had a very successful season and he is fun to watch when we play against him,’’ Lindor said of Gregorius whose threerun homer off Ervin Santana in the first inning of the AL wild-card game Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium was one of several big reasons the Yankees face the Indians in Game 1 of the ALDS at Progressive Field on Thursday night. “He is someone you can learn from.’’
With a tired bullpen and improved pitching Dellin Betances could be the wild card for the Yankees in the ALDS. Control problems in his first three outings in September forced Joe Girardi to use David Robertson in the eighth inning in front of Aroldis Chapman. After walking four and giving up three hits (one homer) in 2 2/3 innings in a three-game stretch from Sept. 5-11, Betances has issued three walks and three hits in his previous seven outings.
In Tuesday night’s 8-4 AL wild-card win Girardi used Tommy Kahnle to finish the sixth and stuck with the right-hander for the seventh and eighth. That got the game to Chapman. Nevertheless, Girardi firmly believes Betances will be a factor in who advances to the ALCS.
“No, I am going to use him,’’ Girardi said when asked if he had lost some trust in Betances. “He is going to be used in important situations. ’’
The Yankees and Indians have until 10 a.m. Thursday to set their 25-man roster and the Yankees, who took 10 pitchers for the wild-card game against the Twins, will add to that after Chad Green, Robertson and Kahnle went multiple innings in relief.
Masahiro Tanaka will be on the roster and start Game 3. Lefty starters Jordan Montgomery and Jaimie Garcia are possibilities but that would force Girardi into likely deciding between Clint Frazier or Tyler Wade to remain active.