Two positions might generate some debate, but if I were creating the starting line-up, the following would be my starting players in tomorrow’s Wild Card game.
1B – Luke Voit
2B – Gleyber Torres
SS- Didi Gregorius
3B – Miguel Andujar
LF – Andrew McCutchen
CF – Aaron Hicks
RF – Aaron Judge
DH – Giancarlo Stanton
C – Austin Romine*
SP – Luis Severino**
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*I know that Gary Sanchez’ bat started to heat up the last week of the season… but, I am still not sold. Sanchez went 5 for 20 in his last six games. That’s better, but it’s not great. In those last six games, there were also three passed balls and two wild pitches with Sanchez catching. In a game where every little thing can matter, I would put the catcher who does a better job of blocking pitches behind the plate. This isn’t the popular decision, I understand. My full reasoning for this says consistent with the article I wrote last week on this topic : If I Was The Manager (Wild Card Game): Catcher
** Of all the Yankees’ starting pitchers, Luis Severino has the unquestioned best stuff. For the first half of the season, he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He slumped, badly, but he pitched just well enough in his last two starts (13 strikeouts in 12 innings, no home runs, 2.25 ERA) to make me want to give the ball to him in this game. My heart says Masahiro Tanaka is the better “Big Game Pitcher,” but I’d still go with Severino tomorrow. Assuming the Yankees win that game, I would begin the Red Sox series with JA Happ.
