Yankees’ Three Biggest X-Factors Heading Into ALDS

If Wells can keep producing offensively at the bottom of the Yankees’ lineup, this team gets a whole lot better. He’s always had offensive firepower, but he struggled to tap into those tools for most of the season. With his defense and surging offense, Wells could become a key factor for the Yankees as they chase championship No. 28.

Luis Garcia Jr.

The Rays’ top three starters for this series are Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez, and Freddy Peralta. All right-handers. Enter Luis Garcia Jr., the Yankees’ resident righty killer. The 26-year-old has the third-highest slugging percentage in baseball against right-handed pitching this season, posting a ridiculous .589.

With Tolle on the mound in Game 1 of the Wild Card, Garcia was relegated to a pinch-hitter role in the shutout win. In Game 2, however, he came alive. The former Washington National opened the scoring with a mammoth homer off Sonny Gray in the fourth inning, then added two singles later in the game to finish 3-for-5.

With Aaron Judge still a question mark, Garcia will be asked to do damage in the heart of the Yankees’ lineup. His ability to do so will be crucial to the Yankees’ success against a tough Rays pitching staff.

Cam Schlittler

Despite being in the majors for only a year and a half, Cam Schlittler is already building a postseason legacy.

Schlittler etched his name into playoff lore with his eight-inning masterpiece against Boston in the do-or-die Game 3 last year, and he did much of the same this time around. This year, he isn’t the bright-eyed, unproven rookie he was 12 months ago; he’s a battle-tested ace with one hand on the Cy Young Award.

He showed why in his Game 1 start on Tuesday, spinning a 6.1-inning gem in which he surrendered no runs and struck out 12 Red Sox. It was yet another chapter in what is becoming a well-documented story of historic dominance against Boston, as he now owns a career 0.47 ERA against the Yankees’ bitter rivals.

With the schedule shaping up the way it has this year, Cam Schlittler is lined up to start Game 2 at Tropicana Field on Monday. This also means he would get the ball if the series goes to a decisive Game 5, where he would once again pitch in Tampa.

As the ace of the staff, Schlittler will obviously be integral to the Yankees’ success in the ALDS. His importance is even greater because he is pitching on the road, where the 25-year-old thrives. Schlittler owned a 1.16 ERA in away games during the regular season, the best road ERA by any pitcher since the legendary Bob Gibson posted a 0.81 road ERA in 1968. Schlittler isn’t just unafraid of the pressure; he craves it. Having an ace with that sixth sense for the big moment could tip the scales in the Bronx Bombers’ favor in what will be a tightly contested Division Series.

End Of My Yankees Rant

This series is going to be tough for the Yankees. The Rays are a pesky team, built to put the ball in play, use their athleticism on the bases, and execute the little things. Those are the types of teams that have given the Yankees trouble in recent years. Execution will ultimately decide this matchup. The Bronx Bombers have the edge in overall roster quality and depth, but the Rays have a clear identity and stick to it.

It’s tough to predict which way the chips will fall in this series, but these three Yankees could have the biggest impact on tipping the scales in favor of the Bronx Bombers.