The New York Yankees are set to face Kansas City Royals in American League Division Series as the latter beat Baltimore Orioles 2-1 in game 2 of the wildcard series. Now that the Yanks have learned about their opponents, preparations have begun in full swing, starting from roster decisions.
With a large pool of pitchers to choose from, the New York Yankees fixed its starting pitching rotation for the ALDS series. While Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon have booked confirmed starts, a space has been left open for as many as two pitching choices. Let’s explore the Yanks’ tentative pitching schedule.
Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon To Pitch For Yankees In ALDS
The New York Yankees have solidified their pitching rotation for the upcoming American League Division Series (ALDS), set to start on Saturday in New York. Resigning AL CY Young pitcher, Gerrit Cole will take the mound for Game 1 against the Kansas City Royals. Moreover, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com states that the Yanks plan to follow Cole with Carlos Rodon for Game 2 and either Luis Gil or Clarke Schmidt for Game 3. Pitching coach Matt Blake hinted that Schmidt could be utilized out of the bullpen for either Game 1 or 2, providing flexibility to the pitching strategy early in the series. Having said that, turning to Cole as the Game 1 starter is a no-brainer choice for the Bronx Bombers.
Despite a late start to the season due to an elbow injury, the six-time All-Star finished the year with solid stats, a 3.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 99 strikeouts in 95 innings. While these numbers are a notch below his Cy Young-winning performance from the previous year, Cole has always been a reliable postseason performer. He boasts a career 2.93 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 17 playoff starts, making him a trusted choice for high-stakes games. If Cole struggles, the Yankees will look to Rodon and potentially Gil to carry the load. Rodon was the most durable pitcher in the Yanks’ rotation this year. Meanwhile, Gil emerged as a breakout star with 171 strikeouts in 151.2 innings. With a best-of-five format, the Bronx Bombers will need all hands on deck to secure a spot in the American League Championship Series, and their pitching depth will be crucial.
Kansas City Royals Advance To ALDS With 2-1 Win Vs Orioles
The stage is nearly set for the 2024 MLB Division Series, with the New York Yankees now aware of their opponent. As the top seed in the American League, the Yanks, who secured the No. 1 seed with an AL-best 94 regular-season wins, will face the Kansas City Royals in a best-of-five series.
Kansas City advanced after sweeping the No. 4 seed Baltimore Orioles in two games during the Wild Card Series, held at Camden Yards. The Royals’ victory came on the back of stellar pitching, allowing only one run across both games and timely hitting. In the other American League Division Series matchup, the No. 2 Cleveland Guardians will host the No. 6 seed Detroit Tigers.
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