REVAMPED ROTATIONS OF YANKEES, RAYS WILL DECIDE WHO’S ON TOP
1NEW YORK YANKEES
O/U WINS: 95.5
PLAYER WHO’LL NEED TO STEP UP: Corey Kluber. Kluber’s five seasons from 2014-18 look a lot like deGrom’s last five seasons — a pitcher at the top of the sport. Kluber has made eight combined starts the last two seasons. The Yankees tried to get crafty — or too cute — in ALDS Game 2 against the Rays last year, deploying Deivi Garcia for an inning followed by J.A. Happ. If they comfortably start Kluber in Game 2 in 2021 it would mean that this experiment to bring the veteran righty in for one year at $11 million was a great success. NAME YOU’LL GET TO KNOW: Nick Nelson. He had a 4.79 ERA in 11 appearances last year, but six of his 11 earned runs came in one illfated outing against the Phillies. He has power stuff and the potential to cover multiple innings. If right, he can be a 75-100-inning hybrid bridging a lot of critical innings over six months. HOW IT’LL GO DOWN: There is volatility here, particularly around the sturdiness of the rotation but also concerning whether Gary Sanchez is going to be a strong frontline catcher and Gleyber Torres a legitimate shortstop. But the depth of talent suggests 95 wins is within the 2021 Yankees’ grasp.
PROJECTED LINEUP 2B DJ LeMahieu RF Aaron Judge CFAaronHicks DH Giancarlo Stanton SS Gleyber Torres 1B Jay Bruce
3B Gio Urshela
C Gary Sanchez LF Clint Frazier ROTATION
RHP Gerrit Cole RHP Corey Kluber RHP Domingo German LHP Jordan Montgomery RHP Jameson Taillon