The Yankees head into their series with the Twins in a spot that should feel familiar by now: a chance to clean things up, tighten the edges, and get a few key arms in rhythm before October arrives.
That matters most because this set includes two of New York’s four postseason starters, plus another pitcher who is trying to keep the momentum going so he’s ready whenever the bullpen phone rings. On paper, the Yankees should have the edge in every matchup. But the bigger picture is about timing, sharpness, and making these outings count as “get right” starts.
Will Warren gets the first look, and he’s been trending in the right direction after a strong opening to the season and a rougher stretch near the end. Over his last 15.1 innings, spanning two starts and one relief appearance, he has allowed two earned runs, struck out 15, walked four, and given up only one homer.
His most recent outing against the Rockies was one of his better ones, with eight strikeouts across six innings. The hope now is that he brings that same swing-and-miss stuff against Minnesota.
He’ll be facing a Twins staff led by Simeon Woods Richardson, but the Yankees’ offense should also have a real chance to do damage in this one. The middle game of the series could be the most important, and it’s the one that brings Max Fried back to the mound after a start in which his command was off against the Rockies.
He still struck out seven, which is a positive sign, but the Yankees need more than that from him now. They need length, rhythm, and the kind of outing that puts him back on track.
Fried is the third starter behind Gerrit Cole and Cam Schlittler, and the Yankees need him to look like himself before the calendar flips to October. Injuries have made this an uneven season for him, but he still sits near the center of their World Series plans. A strong outing against the Twins would be a welcome step in that direction.
The Twins will counter with Ober, who is their most reliable arm in this series. He’s posted a 1.88 ERA over his last three starts, though his 3.73 FIP suggests some of that success may be a little less secure than it looks. Even so, his season ERA sits at 4.28, and Fried should be in position to hold his own.
The Yankees’ best chance to put the series away may come Wednesday afternoon with Carlos Rodón on the mound. If things go according to plan, he’ll be pitching with New York already up 2-0 and trying to finish the job while also building up his pitch count for October.
Rodón’s last start against the Mets was sharp: three hits, two runs, one earned, one walk, and eight strikeouts over 6.1 innings. Before that, he turned in another solid performance against San Diego, striking out seven while allowing three walks, two hits, and one earned run in five innings.
Minnesota’s starter in that game is Matthews, who owns a 4.98 ERA this season. He’s also had a rough time in his first two starts this month, giving up nine earned runs, five walks, and four home runs. That puts this in the category of games the Yankees are expected to handle, and anything less would be a disappointment.
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Yankees Just Made Their Bullpen Problem Even More Frustrating
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The bigger problem is what those rules mean in practice for the Yankees timing. Once De Los Santos is optioned, the team cannot recall him for 15 days, which takes away some of the flexibility they might otherwise have in a bullpen built around quick decisions and frequent turnover. In a stretch where the club is also managing upcoming player returns, that kind of limitation can leave a useful reliever stuck on the outside looking in even when he has done enough to merit another shot. [Read more 🡒]