The Tuesday Discussion: The Playoff Rotation
- SSTN Admin
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
September 8, 2026
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The Tuesday Discussion is back this week with a simple question that we asked our writers:
How would you set-up the Yankees starting pitching for the playoffs?
Here are their replies:
Derek McAdam - Cam Schlittler starts Game 1, followed by Max Fried in Game 2, Gerrit Cole in Game 3 and Carlos Rodon in Game 4. There is no question that the Yankees have one of the deepest post-season starting rotations in the league, as long as they can all stay healthy.
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Ed Botti - Depending on opponent, I'm leaning towards Schlittler. Fried. Cole. Rodon.
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Paul Semendinger - Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon (a rotation that could take the Yankees all the way)
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Tim Kabel - I would go with Cam Schlittler, Max Fried, Gerrit Cole, and Carlos Rodon. Will Warren would be the primary long man in case any of them struggled.
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Mike Whiteman - Schlittler has earned Game One, and I think he can handle it. Fried presents a totally different look for Game Two. Joe Torre once said that Game Three might be the most important game, and I think would be in good hands with Cole. Rodon is a pretty darned good #4 starter.
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(Cover image created with the assistance of ChatGPT)
It depends on if they start at home or on the road.
Cole has been better at home, Schlittler has been a lot better on the road.
Fried has been better on the road but not radically. Rodon has very little split.
It is worth noting that neither of Fried nor Rodon has been very good in the postseason.
That said, Fried and Rodon are #2 and #4 respectively regardless of where the series begins.
If they start at home, Cole gets games #1 and #5. Cam gets #3 and #7.
If they start on the road, flip them.
The four Starters are locked in. The two Lefties will go in Games 2 and 4. The only question in a best of 7, if you can line it up, do you want Cole lurking around in the pen in Game 7 or do you want Schlittler to? To me that determines which one starts Gamec1 and who starts Gapattern,
The best part is, even if it's slightly off you might end up with Cole starting in Games 1 & 5, and Schlittler in Games 3 & 7.
WC round I'm doing Cole & Fried Games 1 & 2, Schlittler can handle Game 3.
As much fun it was to have Andy Pettitte around, I wanted him either to start…
With his impressive road record, I might consider holding Cam for the first road game. But, all other things equal, you can't go wrong with the consensus.