Rain Allowed The Yankees To Return To The Original Plan
It’s clear that the New York Yankees have much more trust in their top three starters than in the rest of their rotation.
Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes Jr. and Luis Severino are Aaron Boone‘s go-to guys in the rotation, while Jameson Taillon, Domingo German and Frankie Montas, for different reasons are not as trustworthy.
According to YES Network’s Jack Curry, the Yanks had originally planned to use their top-three starters exclusively in the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Last Thursday’s rainout forced them to include Taillon in the conversation, as he was expected to start Game 5 on Monday.
The Rain Restored The Yanks’ Original Plan
What the rains takes away from you, it apparently gives you back.
“Originally, Yanks planned to go Cole, Cortes, Severino, Cole & Cortes (on short rest) in ALDS. Rain changed that. Now more rain has allowed them to restore the plan and start Cortes over Taillon. That’s the right call. It’s not a slight at JT. It’s what they always wanted to do,” Curry wrote.
Originally, Yanks planned to go Cole, Cortes, Severino, Cole & Cortes (on short rest) in ALDS. Rain changed that. Now more rain has allowed them to restore the plan and start Cortes over Taillon. That’s the right call. It’s not a slight at JT. It’s what they always wanted to do.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) October 18, 2022
With a 3.91 regular season ERA, Taillon was far from a liability: he was a solid starter on the best team in the AL East.
Cortes, however, was magnificent: he had a 2.44 ERA and looked fantastic all year long.
Despite the fact that he will be starting on three days rest, naming Cortes for the most important game of the season is the right call.
Taillon is also expected to be available should he be needed ainsome capacity.
In fact, all Yankees pitchers, including Cole, may see action if the flow of the game dictates it.
The rain initially ruined the Yankees’ original plan, but it also restored it after yesterday’s events.