Heading into tonight’s Wild Card elimination game against division rival Boston, the Yankees made several adjustments to their roster. The Bombers designated pitchers Andrew Heaney and Brody Koerner, and added catcher Rob Brantly and outfielder Greg Allen. Gerrit Cole will be on the bump opposite Nathan Eovaldi, and here’s how the overall roster will look:
Right-handed pitchers
Left-handed pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Leaving both Heaney and Koerner off the playoff roster comes as no surprise, though for different reasons. The Yanks acquired Heaney from the Angels in a deadline deal, but he couldn’t match even his pedestrian historical output when he arrived in the Bronx. The former Halo has put up a career 4.45 FIP, but struggled to a 6.93 mark since being traded on July 30.
Drafted in 2015, the 27-year-old Koerner was a career Yankee farmhand until being called up August 3. He spent 18 days on the roster, then was recalled for Sunday’s finale. In all, he appeared in just 2 games and tossed 3 innings. Neither pitcher was likely to see action tonight, so the Yanks clearly decided to fortify their bench with additions of Brantly and Allen.
Notably absent is DJ LeMahieu, whom the Yankees placed on the 10-day injured list due to a sports hernia over the weekend. LeMahieu’s injury removes him as a possibility for both the Wild Card game and for a potential American League Division Series, but he could potentially return by the ALCS, should the Yankees advance. Other notable absences include Jordan Montgomery, Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon, but they can be added for the ALDS if the Yankees make it past the Sox.
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