The Yankees will start Clarke Schmidt in Game 3 against the Royals

NEW YORK – Clarke Schmidt is the Yankees' pick to start Game 3 when the best-of-five AL Division Series moves to Kansas City.

Right-hander Luis Gil remains as a bullpen extra against the Royals, but “if we move forward, (Gil) will hopefully step right back into the rotation,” manager Aaron Boone said.

Gil has no bullpen experience and the rookie would likely only appear in a structured relief situation where he would start an inning.

“The reality is, if you get far in this thing, you might have some starting players in unique roles in a given game,” Boone said. “It’s all hands on deck here and be prepared for anything.”

And in a twist in Saturday's Game 1 lineup, Boone singled out the Royals' lefty starter Cole Ragans with a right-hander hitting Jon Berti at first base on switch-hit Oswaldo Cabrera, despite his reverse Splits.

Berti, an otherwise experienced infielder, makes his first MLB start at first base, necessitated by Anthony Rizzo's injury (broken right hand finger).

“I just felt more comfortable with Jon (Monday night),” said Boone, who liked what he saw from Berti’s first base defense during practice.

Before Game 2 on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, Boone said he “just had a feeling” Schmidt was “the right guy for Game 3” on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

A shaky Gerrit Cole pitched five innings in the Yankees' 6-5 ALDS-opening win Saturday night, and Boone wanted Schmidt to be available for Game 1 if needed before making his decision.

Schmidt has three games of postseason pitching experience, all in relief, but he has “just become an outstanding pitcher in this league, not just last year starting in May, but even at a different level this year,” Boone said.

In a possible Game 4, Cole would be primed to get regular rest again. Carlos Rodon, the Yankees' Game 2 starter, could also start Game 5 on normal rest in a winner-take-all game at Yankee Stadium if necessary.

As for a starter for Game 3, pitching coach Matt Blake said earlier this week: “We know Clarke has done it in the past, so there's definitely some unknown about what Luis would like to have in the 'pen.”

Schmidt was 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA in his first 11 starts this season when a lat strain cost him the next three months. Since returning to the rotation on September 7, Schmidt has gone 0-2 with a 3.65 ERA with Boone, and the Yankees' coaching staff feels he is currently “throwing the ball just as well as he did at the beginning of the season.” Boone said.

Pressure: In this playoff field, the Yankees are feeling the pressure to win a pennant

After a stellar start (9-1, 2.03 ERA) in his first 14 appearances, replacing the then-injured Cole (elbow irritation) in the rotation, Gil's production has declined.

In his last 15 starts, Gil is 6-6 with a 5.15 ERA and has exceeded his previous innings limits after two largely lost seasons due to Tommy John rehab surgery.

“We had some really difficult but good decisions to make,” Boone said of his personnel decisions early in the postseason; Starter Marcus Stroman failed to make the ALDS roster.

Nestor Cortes (strained left flexor) resumed his throwing program Sunday and early reports said things were going well, according to Boone, who was unsure of the left-hander's next move.

It's too early to speculate whether Cortes might be considered for another round this postseason.

The Yankees will start Clarke Schmidt in Game 3 against the Royals

ByVanessa

By Vanessa

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