Having reached the ALCS for the fourth time in eight years, the New York Yankees made some key roster before Monday’s Game 1. Most notably, veterans Anthony Rizzo and Marcus Stroman are new inclusions on the ALCS roster after both were left off for the ALDS.
Rizzo, who suffered two fractured fingers just 17 days ago, was slated at first base in the pivotal series opener. When asked about his speedy recovery, Rizzo said, “It’s just pain. It’s temporary, and the 50,000 people in the stands and the adrenaline and what’s at stake are going to outweigh any pain I’ll be feeling.”
Our ALCS Roster is set
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— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 14, 2024
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Rizzo and Stroman could be key players in the Yankees’ series against the Cleveland Guardians, playing slightly different roles than in the regular season.
The Veteran’s Vitality
Rizzo’s 2024 wasn’t a pretty season. The 35-year-old first baseman played in just 92 games in the regular season, slashing .228/.301/.335 with 8 home runs. But it’s not too late to flip the narrative on a rocky year. Rizzo roped a line drive into center field in his first at-bat of Game 1. This shows that the veteran first baseman may still have an impact on the series. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched, as Rizzo has been viable in the postseason, clubbing 9 homers in 50 career postseason games with an OPS of .726.
However, it’s not just Rizzo’s hitting that can turn out to be valuable. The four-time Gold Glove winner provides excellent defense and stability at first base. He’s also captaining an infield that had appeared in a combined 31 postseason games (all via Gleyber Torres) coming into October. Even when he isn’t performing at the plate, Rizzo’s defensive skills and leadership will prove invaluable for the Yankees.
New Long Reliever
In his first season in pinstripes, Stroman had an up-and-down but serviceable regular season. The 33-year-old pitched to a 4.31 ERA over 152 2/3 innings, going 10-9. Ultimately, Aaron Boone decided that Stroman’s services out of the bullpen weren’t necessary for the ALDS. But in a longer series, Stroman could be a valuable inning-eater and relieve the workload of other Yankee relievers.
“He definitely provides length for us down there,” Boone said. “But, at the same time, you never know. You can find yourself in the biggest moment, in the biggest spot of the series. It’s the playoffs.”
The New York native hasn’t tasted October baseball since 2016 as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Over 5 postseason starts, he’s pitched to a 4.40 ERA, going 1-1 and reaching the sixth inning in every appearance. Not only will Stroman provide value in relief, but if the Yankees are unlucky enough that one of their starters goes down, Boone will likely turn to the veteran right-hander to step up. This is especially key in the absence of left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr.
How The Series Could Shift
The presence of Rizzo and Stroman will force the Guardians to make some adjustments. They will not be facing Oswaldo Cabrera or Jon Berti at first, which makes a significant difference in the lineup. Rizzo will take his walks (and hit-by-pitches) in the bottom of the lineup, which could set up more RBI opportunities for the top of the order in Gleyber Torres and Juan Soto.
In his lone relief outing on September 17th, Stroman posted 3 innings of one-run ball, notching his second career save. Though he has an ERA of 5.51 in career relief appearances, Stroman may have a chip on his shoulder after being left off the previous roster. This could be a factor in motivating his performance in this series. According to Boone: “He’s a big reason why we’re here. The consistency of our starting pitchers is why we’re division winners, he’s a big part of that,” he continued. “He’s stayed ready, his live last week when he threw was good and I feel like he deserved to be on there.”
New York won Monday’s series opener 5-2, aided by solo homers off the bats of Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto. Rizzo went 1-3 with a single and a walk, but what’s important is that he looked comfortable at the plate. Stroman didn’t see any action out of the ‘pen, as Carlos Rodon pitched well into the sixth inning. But as the series goes on, expect both players to be in critical situations, especially in the latter innings. Stroman and Co. will try to match Cleveland’s killer bullpen as Rizzo and the lineup will attempt to break it. If the Yankees’ bullpen holds up and the lineup can capitalize on Cleveland’s starters, the Bombers have a good chance of advancing to the Fall Classic.
Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
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