NEW YORK — The New York Yankees announced their 26-man roster against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series hours before Game 1 on Saturday.
Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA) will face Royals righty Michael Wacha (13-8, 3.35 ERA) at 6:38 p.m. at Yankee Stadium.
We’ll see you at our place tonight. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/Ke8ptcIPBi
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 5, 2024
Position players
Gleyber Torres, 2B
Juan Soto, RF
Aaron Judge, CF
Austin Wells, C
Giancarlo Stanton, DH
Jazz Chisholm, 3B
Jasson Domínguez, LF
Ben Rice, 1B
Anthony Volpe, SS
Jose Trevino, C
Alex Verdugo, LF
Jon Berti, UTIL
Oswaldo Cabrera, UTIL
Duke Ellis, OF
Trent Grisham, OF
Pitchers
Gerrit Cole, RHP
Carlos Rodón, LHP
Luis Gil, RHP
Clarke Schmidt, RHP
Luke Weaver, RHP
Tommy Kahnle, RHP
Jake Cousins, RHP
Ian Hamilton, RHP
Clay Holmes, RHP
Tim Hill, LHP
Tim Mayza, LHP
Here’s our analysis:
Stroman out
The Yankees not choosing Stroman for their ALDS roster is not a surprise. Since the Yankees started preparing for their eventual opponent, manager Aaron Boone has been non-committal in assuring Stroman would be on the roster.
There’s not a role that would have made sense for Stroman in this round of the playoffs. With how he’s performed, Stroman would only be used in a mop-up relief role where either team is winning big. Stroman’s MLB-worst strikeout rate among all starters with at least 150 innings pitched and his career-worst ground ball rate would make him a liability to pitch in any high- or medium-leverage role.
MLB has scheduled three off days into a five-game series, so it also lessens the need to carry Stroman. If there’s an emergency, Gil or Schmidt could be the Yankees’ bulk relief option.
The Yankees have Stroman under contract for $18 million next season, and the veteran starter has an $18 million vesting option for 2026 if he reaches 140 innings next season. It’s possible the Yankees could look to get off of Stroman’s remaining salary this offseason by trading him to a starting pitching-needy club. – Kirschner
Rizzo out
A high-and-inside slider fractured Anthony Rizzo’s ring and pinky fingers in the penultimate game of the season. All week, he received treatment and wore a brace. It wasn’t enough.
The Yankees and Rizzo — a lefty — decided that he wouldn’t be able to fight through the pain of gripping a bat or wearing a glove. Maybe he’ll be an option for the AL Championship Series, if the Yankees make it.
Boone will turn to either the switch-hitting Oswaldo Cabrera or lefty-swinging Ben Rice to start at first base with Jon Berti also an option. Rice, a natural catcher, has more experience at the position and a higher offensive ceiling than Cabrera. The Yankees might also value Cabrera’s ability to pinch hit and play almost anywhere on the field. — Kuty
Speedster in
Hello, Duke Ellis. He’s one of the fastest players in baseball, and one of the best base stealers in the minor leagues. This season, he swiped 57 bags and was caught stealing just four times between Double A and Triple A. In the majors, he went 5-for-5 in steals. The Yankees likely won’t use him to do anything other than run. He has a career .659 OPS in the minors and isn’t considered a high-level defender. Adding a postseason pinch runner isn’t new for the Yankees, who have in the past employed Rico Noel, Greg Allen, Tyler Wade, Tim Locastro and others in the role. — Kuty
(Top photo of Marcus Stroman and his Yankee teammates earlier this week: Luke Hales/Getty Images)
