W.C. Game 1 Quick Perspectives
by Paul Semendinger
September 30, 2026
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We have all discussed the game last night - probably all day, but I figured I would give my quick thoughts as well:
Cam Schlittler was amazing. I don't even understand why there was talk that he wouldn't start Game One. That was the right call. It was the obvious call on its face. I am glad the Yankees did the correct thing.
The Yankees will need Cam Schlittler a bunch more times in the postseason. He should have never, ever, ever come out to pitch after he exceeded his highest pitch total of the entire year. That was not a good decision by Aaron Boone.
I have been saying for months that the Yankees have the starting pitching to go all the way. And they do.
The Yankees have what could be the next great young core. There are young players all over the diamond. And they all looked great last night.
Being that it is likely that Anthony Volpe will be the Yankees' second baseman next year, I would stick with him at second. Jazz Chisholm has had years and years to prove that he can be a star. In short, he hasn't been. It's unlikely Chisholm will be a Yankee in 2027. The Yankees should look to today and tomorrow and stick with Volpe.
See the point above regarding Spencer Jones in centerfield.
The big moments didn't seem too big for George Lombard, Jr. last night. There are players that are not impacted by the bright lights. Lombard might be one of them. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but he looked great last night.
What was impressive was the number of left-handed hitters who came through last night against left-handed pitching.
The Red Sox bullpen seems to have a plethora of failed Yankees arms.
Giving credit where it is due - Austin Wells had a great game.
9-0 looks and feels good. But, let's remember, it was only one game. I remember once when the Yankees won a playoff game by scoring 19 runs against the Red Sox. They didn't win another game that series.. (I don't think 2004 has any impact on 2026, I am simply pointing out that when the new day dawns, the new day...dawns.)
Beware of the feeling of overconfidence from last night's spectacular Yankees win. Sonny Gray will have plenty of extra motivation against the Yankees tonight and Garrett Chrochet is waiting in the wings and will be deployed by Chad Tracy at the first sign of trouble. Not to mention, Garrett Whitlock is also ready to provide a bridge to Aroldis Chapman. Make no mistake, winning tonight will be a much more difficult task that it was last night.
If Gray is on, that means Crochet is available tomorrow and that is not good news at all for the Yankees.
Sonny Gray is a RHP who is tougher on left-handed hitters than he is on right-handed ones. If the Yankees stacked their lineup with left-handed hitters, like the below, it will be a tactical error.
Grisham CF
Bellinger LF
Rice 1B
Garcia Jr. 1B
Jones RF
Caballero 2B
Wells C
Lombard SS
McMahon 3B
Based on splits, the below is the best lineup the Yankees presently have vs RHP and given Sonny Gray’s reverse splits, this is the lineup I would go with tonight, if I’m the Yankees.
Chisholm 2B
Rice 1B -or- DH
Bellinger LF
Stanton DH -or- Garcia Jr. 1B
Grisham CF
Jones RF
Rosario 3B
Wells C
Lombard SS
McMahon is probably going to start at 3rd base facing a right hander in Sonny Gray.
The discussion about Schlittler not starting Game 1 was all in the fanosphere. We're like whipped dogs who shy away if someone tries just to pet us. We've seen so many bizarre roster and lineup moves (remember Luis Gil as opener to be followed by J.A. Happless?), that we expect the Yankees to make the worst decisions possible.
I agree Schlittler should have come out, though I agree with Alan that leaving him in against Contreras was not unreasonable. But then bring in Headrick for the lefty. I speculate that Boone's thinking was that Schlittler's next start would come in ALDS Game 2, which gives him an extra day off (his 5th day is the off-day between Games 1 a…
Giving credit where it is due - Austin Wells had a great game.
I'm inclined to believe that Wells has good games on some nights when he doesn't hit well.
I cling to the notion that the primary responsibility fo a catcher is to aid the pitchers in leading a team's defense
and last night the pitching was not only extraordinarily effective but also brilliantly composed.
in my estimation, the coaches and the catcher came up with a great plan for Schlittler's mix and location.