ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Hours before the Yankees’ 8-7 loss Wednesday night against the Rays at Tropicana Field, Aaron Boone said he didn’t know who would start the AL wild-card game against the Athletics next Wednesday.
The manager said, however, he will choose from among J.A. Happ, Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino, and will not use a reliever to open the loser-goes-home game, the biggest game played by the Yankees this season.
“I don’t think we can do something like we did the other day when we started a reliever [Jonathan Holder],’’ Boone said. “I see one of our three starters starting that game. You could see a situation where one of our starters is pitching real well and comes out a little early because we’d be lined up and rested with our guys ready to go. We could be a little aggressive in certain situations. But it wouldn’t be an opening-type situation.’’
Happ, who is slated to start Friday night in Boston, would be on regular four days’ rest for the wild-card game and in position to face the A’s, whom he held to a run and two hits in six innings on Sept. 4 in Oakland. Tanaka, who started Wednesday and allowed four runs (three earned) in four-plus innings, could be Boone’s choice even though he would be working the wild-card game on extended rest and is coming off two subpar outings. Severino, who won his 19th game on Tuesday, is slated to work Sunday on his regular turn, but that could be shortened, allowing him to pitch in the wild-card game.
Boone said the topic of who will start has been discussed, but until the Yankees are certain of hosting the wild-card game at Yankee Stadium, no decision will be reached.
“A lot of people ask me that … and honestly, I have no idea. I think we have a good decision to make. Hopefully we want to play that game and at home and we want to make sure that happens,’’ said Boone, whose club’s magic number to play the game in The Bronx was two entering Wednesday. “Then, hopefully we’re in a position when we get to the weekend in Boston where we can map it out and adjust guys’ workloads. As of now, we haven’t made a decision.’’
CC Sabathia is scheduled to make his 29th and final start of the season Thursday against the Rays. With 148 innings pitched, the veteran lefty is seven frames short of reaching 155, which would mean he gets a $500,000 incentive payment.
Sabathia (8-7) hasn’t gone seven innings since June 29, and has worked seven or more innings four times this year with 7 ²/₃ his longest outing.
In his past four starts, the 38-year-old is 1-2 with a 7.02 ERA. His last start was a six-inning effort against the Orioles on Friday when he allowed two runs and six hits and got the win.
Missing 12 days from April 7-19 with a sore right hip likely robbed him of two starts which would have allowed him to reach the incentive payment.
Though the Yankees certainly have appreciated what Sabathia has meant to the franchise since joining it in 2009, they are likely to adhere to the terms of the contract.
Asked by The Post if he knew about the $500,000 incentive, Sabathia said he didn’t. Asked if he wanted to hear about it he said, “No’’ with a smile.
Like most managers Boone said he wasn’t aware of the situation.
Neil Walker left the game for a pinch runner in the eighth after getting drilled in the left shin while attempting a bunt against Vidal Nino.
Boone said X-rays were negative and Walker thought he will be able to play Thursday.
“He got it right there in the middle of the shin,” Boone said of Walker, who was replaced by Tyler Wade. “He got it pretty good. We’ll see how it is overnight. … Nothing’s broken or anything.”
The Yankees can hardly afford to lose the versatile Walker. He filled in at second base when Gleyber Torres was out with hip tightness and is the defensive replacement for Miguel Andujar at third. Walker can also fill-in at first base, especially against right-handed hitting. If Walker isn’t able to play, Greg Bird could be needed as a backup at first and Wade would be an option as a utility infielder.
Aaron Hicks took batting practice indoors and said his tight left hamstring responded well.
“Everything went well,’’ said Hicks, who was removed from Monday night’s game when the hamstring tightened. “I definitely knew when I was playing with it that it wasn’t a tear.’’
Hicks wasn’t in Wednesday’s lineup and likely won’t play Thursday because the Tropicana Field playing surface is artificial turf.
“They don’t want me to play on turf. I assume I will play Friday [in Boston],’’ Hicks said.
According to Boone, Hicks will be in the lineup against the Red Sox on Friday if he doesn’t suffer a setback Thursday, when he will run the bases and take batting practice on the field.
Neither Boone nor pitching coach Larry Rothschild were ready to reveal how many pitchers will be active for the wild-card game.
“I could see anywhere [from] 10, 11, 12,” Boone said. “Those will be some of the final decisions we have. Do we want to carry an extra bench guy? Who are the three or four guys we’re considering for that last spot?”
Didi Gregorius tested his injured right wrist by throwing from short to first Wednesday, while Wade worked on running from first to third. Wade is in the mix to be on the wild-card roster to serve as a pinch runner.
— Additional reporting by Dan Martin