ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If there weren’t several variables involved in the Yankees’ announced rotation for the upcoming weekend series at Boston, it would be easy to assume J.A. Happ would start against the Athletics in the wild-card game Wednesday.
Since Happ is starting Friday, he would be on regular four days’ rest for the lose-and-go-home game, and he has been the best Yankees starter lately.
Masahiro Tanaka’s past two starts haven’t been good since his signature splitter has vanished, and although Luis Severino has 19 wins and has pitched better in his past two outings, he is scheduled to start the regular-season finale on Sunday.
The Yankees could shorten Severino’s outing to two innings to keep him in the mix for Wednesday, but Happ is the favorite with Tanaka and Severino available out of the bullpen against the A’s.
According to Aaron Boone, Thursday’s focus was on beating the Rays and reducing the magic number over the A’s for home field in the wild-card game to one. A 12-1 victory accomplished that.
Once the Yankees know the wild-card game will be in The Bronx, Boone said he will have a clearer indication of who will start the biggest game of the Yankees’ season.
“Hopefully we get to a point this weekend where we are really juggling it to the point where we set up the way we want,” Boone said. “At this point we are having casual conversations between us. I am sure we will get after it this weekend.’’
Asked if he might be tempted to hold Happ, who has gone 7-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 20 career appearances (19 starts) against the Red Sox and 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in nine games (eight starts) at Fenway Park, for the best-of-five ALDS, provided the Yankees topple the A’s, Boone said he isn’t looking past the wild-card game.
“I would say we are going to pour everything into the wild-card game and what we think gives us the best chance,’’ Boone said. “Again, we feel like in a lot of ways we are dealing with a few different really good options that whoever doesn’t [start the wild card] makes sense going into the next series. We are going to do the best we can to determine what path we like the best going into that Wednesday game.”
Boone said there is “probably a chance” Lance Lynn, who is slated to start Saturday, could have a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen for the wild-card game and beyond.
That could remain the same should the Yankees advance to the best-of-five ALDS, where they would need a fourth starter against the Red Sox.
“Obviously, CC [Sabathia] would probably be that guy and Lynn we will feel like will play an important role for in the postseason whether that is in a starting role or being a tough righty out of the pen that we like in certain matchups,” Boone said. “That’s a little bit further down the line, but those would be the obvious guys you would consider.”
In 10 games (nine starts) with the Yankees since coming from the Twins in late July, Lynn is 2-2 with a 4.21 ERA and has struck out 57 in 51 ¹/₃ innings. Right-handed hitters are batting .229 (25-for-109) against Lynn, so he could be a weapon versus them, but might need help against lefties, who are batting .320 (31-for-97).
Didi Gregorius and Aaron Hicks worked out on the field before Thursday’s game and each reported batting practice went well.
Boone was more optimistic Hicks would return to the lineup ahead of Gregorius. Asked if he expected either to play in Boston, Boone was a bit reserved about Gregorius, who hasn’t played since Saturday due to torn cartilage in his right wrist.
“We will see on Didi. Hope he continues to get through each day,” Boone said of his shortstop, who took batting practice on the field for the first time and fielded ground balls. “Leaning on the doctors to make sure he is good to go.”
Boone said he expects Hicks, who left Monday night’s game with a tight left hamstring and hasn’t played since, to be in the lineup Friday night.
Neil Walker left Wednesday night’s game after getting hit on the left shin by a pitch but was in Thursday’s lineup at third base.
It was the fourth straight game Walker, a more consistently solid defender than rookie Miguel Andujar, started at third in a game Sabathia started. The last time Andujar started at third with Sabathia on the mound was Sept. 5.
Andujar was the designated hitter, and his three-run homer highlighted a four-run first inning.
Lost in Sabathia’s ejection in the sixth inning was he earned his 129th victory as a Yankee, pushing him ahead of Jack Chesbro into 11th place on the franchise’s all-time list. It was Sabathia’s 246th career victory, tying Joe McGinnity for 50th place on MLB’s all-time list. With 538 starts, Sabathia is tied with Red Ruffing for 32nd place on the all-time list.
With 27 home runs, Andujar is two homers short of tying Joe DiMaggio for the second most by a Yankees rookie. Aaron Judge’s 52 last year leads the list.
Boone was ejected with Sabathia in the sixth inning. It was his fourth ejection this year.