Yankees Anticipate Postseason Pitching Strategies

The Yankees are weighing their options for postseason pitching.

This has led to some speculation.

Manager Aaron Boone didn’t give away much regarding plans for a potential Game 3 in the wildcard round or who would follow Max Fried and Carlos Rodon.

Cam Schlittler and Luis Gil seem to be front runners, though Will Warren is also part of the discussion. Boone mentioned there wouldn’t be a tandem pitching scenario where two pitchers split six or seven innings.

“They aren’t necessarily the best pair for each other because their styles are similar,” Boone commented about the three right-handers.

It’s possible to go with the remaining options, but Boone was noncommittal.

When asked if he could see Schlittler, Gil, and Warren all making it onto the wildcard roster, he responded, “I don’t know,” before celebrating the team’s 8-1 victory over the White Sox on Wednesday.

Boone said he’s unsure about how many pitchers the team will carry. The roster limit is 28, which needs to be trimmed to 26, and they can’t have more than 13 pitchers.

A significant decision looms over whether to start either rookie Schlittler or Gil in Game 3—something the Yankees would prefer to manage carefully, especially if they face the Blue Jays.

Gil had a solid outing on Tuesday, allowing four hits and two runs over six innings but struggled a bit in the third inning, losing some velocity on his fastballs. Boone clarified that the speed dip was intentional, as Gil was trying to control his pitches better.

Trent Grisham recently hit his career-high 34th home run, marking four homers in his last seven games.

Meanwhile, Devin Williams and Paul Blackburn each contributed scoreless innings, with the Yankees’ reliever not allowing any runs over the last 12 and two-thirds innings, maintaining a 0.44 ERA in his last seven games.

On Tuesday, Ben Rice made some impressive plays at first base, including a beautiful scoop that complemented a strong play from Ryan McMahon.

Boone remarked that Rice’s scoop was quite normal for him.

“It’s something he’s working hard on, and there’s definitely room for improvement,” Boone noted about Rice, who is trying to establish his defensive capabilities.

Rodon was honored on the field before the game as a nominee for the 2025 Roberto Clemente Award. The Carlos Rodón Foundation provides support for couples dealing with infertility and pregnancy loss by offering financial assistance and resources for IVF.