The Yankees have their place in the Wild Card picture, and now the focus shifts to the choices that could define their October run. With the Boston Red Sox lined up as the first opponent and the weekend set against the Baltimore Orioles serving as a tune-up, New York is staring at a short list of decisions that carry real weight. Three, in particular, stand out.
The first is the easiest to explain and the hardest to ignore: activate Aaron Judge and slot him in as the starting DH. The Yankees can play the timing game if they want and wait until the last possible moment, even if only to keep the Red Sox guessing. But if Judge is fully ready to go, he should be in the lineup.
This is not about protecting some young player who still needs time to prove himself. Judge is 34, he knows exactly what the stakes are, and he deserves the chance to decide how much risk he wants to take on.
His injury this season also changed the conversation. It served as a reminder that there may be fewer chances ahead than anyone once assumed.
In a series like this, New York needs its best bat available, and Judge has earned the right to be that guy.
Then there’s Carlos Lagrange, the wild card in every sense. Matt Blake said the Yankees have had "a lot of talks" lately about promoting Carlos Lagrange to get him in the mix this weekend. Lagrange threw a live BP yesterday, which is why he didn't get the call when Clarke Schmidt went on the IL.
That kind of move would take nerve, but it also has a real edge to it. Lagrange brings a 102 MPH heater and, more importantly, zero big-league track record for Boston to study.
He would be a total unknown in a series where surprises matter. The Yankees also have a practical reason to consider it: their bullpen is worn down, and another fresh arm would help.
The club passed on making the move between doubleheader games on Friday, with the timing of Lagrange’s throw day part of the equation, which suggests that if he is added, he likely wouldn’t be used more than once in the series.
Sure, there’s risk. Nerves happen.
A fastball can get caught and leave the yard. But for a move that aggressive, the downside still feels forgivable if the idea is to inject urgency and force into the matchup.
The third call is the one that would spark the most debate: start Carlos Rodón in the ALWC instead of Gerrit Cole. The argument is simple enough.
Rodón has looked sharper lately, and in October, the hot hand matters. Cole’s postseason resume is stronger, but the Yankees don’t have the luxury of living in the past.
They need the arm that’s dealing right now.
There’s also the left-handed angle, which adds another wrinkle to New York’s thinking. The Yankees are already weighing whether Max Fried should start Game 1 instead of Cam Schlittler, in part because the Red Sox may be without right-handed slugger Willson Contreras. If Boston is still missing Contreras by the time Game 3 comes around, if it’s needed, Rodón becomes an even more appealing option.
For the Yankees, this is the moment to choose bold over cautious. The roster is close to set, the opponent is known, and the margin for hesitation is gone.
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Yankees Could Give Carlos Rodon A Surprising Postseason Role
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Rodn has been paid to start, and the Yankees still view him that way, but the postseason often rewrites the usual script. Using him in relief would keep his arm in play for the wild-card round while also preserving the option of sending him back to the mound if the Yankees advance to a division series matchup with the Rays, a balancing act that could shape how Boone lines up the staff. [Read more 🡒]