The New York Yankees took a page out of the Tampa Bay Rays’ playbook on Monday night when they started reliever Jonathan Holder.
Holder, who assumed the responsibility of what is now known as an opener, commenced a bullpen game against their AL East divisional rivals in Tampa as eight-different pitchers threw at least one inning. Starter-turned-reliever Sonny Gray was the only arm to throw multiple innings.
Gray was the only Yankees pitcher to allow a run as the strategy worked against a red-hot Rays team that was 16-5 in their last 21 games entering Monday night.
During that span, they scored a run or less only twice.
But the Rays were stymied by a dose of their own medicine as they were the first to trot out closer Sergio Romo to start a game on five different occasions this season.
The constant different looks that the Yankees relievers provided did not allow the Rays offense to gain any sort of momentum.
For manager Aaron Boone though, this was likely just a way to position his starting rotation in a way that he can get the arm he wants to start the American League Wild Card Game on Oct. 3.
Could the Yankees go with an opener in the AL Wild Card Game?
While he has not indicated which starter will be given the ball against the Oakland Athletics in the postseason, Monday night should have presented the idea of going with a bullpen game in the one-game playoff.
Yankees starters haven’t necessarily instilled much confidence in Boone throughout the season. Especially any who could have been candidates to get the ball in such a high-pressure game like the Wild Card.
Luis Severino has struggled mightily in the second half while C.C. Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka have battled inconsistencies and injury. Gray, who was picked up last year for the stretch run, has completely lost his status as a starter.
At the moment, J.A. Happ is the most likely option for the Yankees against the Athletics. Acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, the veteran southpaw has been huge over the past two months with a 6-0 record and 2.34 ERA in 10 starts.
The 35-year-old only has three postseason starts in his career though and has never gone more than five innings. He’s done his best work in relief, allowing two runs in 6.1 innings of work out of the pen.
If that kind of history worries Boone, keeping the Athletics on their toes by shuffling pitchers every inning might be a legitimate option for the Yankees in the Wild Card Game.
