Las Vegas has listed the Yankees as prohibitive favorites to beat the Twins on Tuesday night in the AL wild-card game at Yankee Stadium.
Because they won four of six regular-season games and swept the Twins at the Stadium (Sept. 18-20), many are predicting the Yankees will advance to the ALDS against the Indians and participate in a postseason series for the first time in five years.
Though nobody in a Yankee uniform guaranteed the teams’ first postseason win since 2012, it’s a very confident bunch that will face the Twins.
Asked if the Yankees would celebrate with champagne if they eliminate the Twins, Brett Gardner made it clear he believes there will be a reason to do that.
“I haven’t thought too much about that, but I do plan on winning the game and I am sure after that we’ll be pretty excited to advance and we will celebrate a little bit,” Gardner said Monday. “But we will focus on preparing for Ervin Santana and I know our pitchers will focus on preparing for their lineup and their guys.”
Santana, a 34-year-old right-hander who won 16 games this season, last faced the Yankees on Sept. 18 at the Stadium and absorbed a 2-1 loss after giving up two runs and seven hits in 5 ²/₃ innings.
He has made five postseason relief appearances against the Yankees with the Angels, the most recent in 2009 when he worked four games in the ALCS. He is 6-10 with a 5.66 ERA in 20 career regular-season games (all starts) against them.Despite being 0-5 with a 6.43 ERA in six regular-season starts at the current Stadium, Santana doesn’t lack for confidence.
“How many wins?” Santana asked when his numbers were brought up. “So, [Tuesday] is going to be one.”
Severino, 23, was on the Yankees’ roster for the 2015 AL wild-card game against the Astros but didn’t pitch. Now, he is the Yankees’ ace, a 14-game winner who reaches triple-digits with his fastball, has an effective changeup and is facing the biggest challenge of his young career.
“I feel very confident, I am not nervous,” said Severino, who lasted just three innings and allowed three runs on five hits against the Twins on Sept. 20. “We have a great team, great bullpen, great guys. Our team is going to be good.”
Of course, in a one-game deal things can go wrong and lead to a sudden end. For the Yankees, that would tarnish a 91-win season that included chasing the Red Sox to the final weekend for the AL East title. It would also take away from the sensational seasons Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, and Severino delivered.
“I feel good going in. It’s a one-game playoff,” manager Joe Girardi said. “There are two teams that are going to fight like heck and one of us is going to move on but I really like the way we have been playing.”
Since his club won 20 of its final 28 games, Girardi should feel good about his team even if it is loaded with inexperienced players when it comes to October.
After leading the AL with 52 homers, driving in 114 runs and batting .284, Judge is a lock to win the AL Rookie of the Year award and likely will finish first or second in the AL MVP race.
Still, he has been around the Yankees long enough to understand October is the biggest month on the calendar.
“That’s what it’s all about, postseason baseball. The regular season, it’s kind of like spring training is over. This is what it’s all about,” Judge said. “This is where a lot of those [retired] numbers that are hanging out there in left field, this is where they made a name for themselves, in the postseason.”
Which for the Yankees will continue on Thursday in Cleveland or end late Tuesday evening in The Bronx.