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The New York Yankees left behind the celebration for eliminating Boston and are already fully focused on a different challenge: facing the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series.
The Wild Card sweep gave Aaron Boone something especially valuable in October: Time. New York did not need to play a third game against the Red Sox, was able to keep several of its main arms and now arrives at ALDS with a rested rotation, a bullpen that was not overloaded and several additional days to evaluate the situation of Aaron Judge.
In addition, one of the main questions of the last hours already has an answer. Gerrit Cole He will be the starter of the Yankees for Game 1 on Saturday at Tropicana Field.
Gerrit Cole will open Game 1 against Tampa Bay
The Yankees decided to hand the ball over to Gerrit Cole to start the division series against the Rays.
The right-hander had been prepared to launch a possible third match against Boston, but the Yankees victory in only two games prevented it from having to be used during the Wild Card.
That allows Cole to arrive completely rested on Saturday and gives New York the chance to start the series with one of the most postseasoned postseason pitchers inside the roster.
Cole finished the regular season with a 3.61 ERA in 22 starts after completing his return from Tommy John surgery that kept him out throughout the 2025 campaign.
Against Tampa Bay was 1-1 and a 2.50 ERA in three starts during the regular season.
The return from Cole to October has a special meaning
For Cole, this postseason represents much more than another opportunity to launch in October.
The veteran had to go through prolonged rehabilitation after Tommy John surgery, going through bullpen sessions again and minor league starts before returning to the Major League rotation.
Now he finds himself exactly on the stage for which the Yankees hired him: throwing matches of the highest pressure with the possibility of bringing the team closer to a World Series.
His experience may be especially important against a Tampa Bay team that won 98 games and ended up ahead of New York in the Eastern Division.
Aaron Judge continues to be the great unknown
As Cole's situation is already defined, Aaron Judge continues to be the most important question around the roster.
The captain was left out of the Wild Card series due to moderate strain in the soleus muscle of his right calf suffered on September 16.
Judge has done several live batting sessions over the past few days and is still working to try to speed up his return. However, important physical evidence still exists before the Yankees can consider it fully prepared.
The main obstacle continues to be running. Judge has progressed from an anti-gravity treadmill to field exercises, but the ability to run the bases normally remains one of the elements that New York needs to evaluate.
Tampa artificial grass also influences the decision
The place where the series begins adds another factor to the Judge situation.
The first two matches will be played at Tropicana Field, where the artificial surface can increase the load on a leg muscle injury.
Aaron Boone has acknowledged that this element is part of the conversation.
Judge wants to go back and has made it clear that his goal is to play in the gardens, not just taking a turn as an emerging hitter. But the Yankees must determine if their mobility is enough to defend, run the bases and respond for several consecutive matches.
The Yankees proved they can win while they wait for Judge
The decision does not have to be made from despair either.
New York has just eliminated Boston with an offense that produced 18 runs and 26 hits in only two games.
Ben Rice was one of the great figures of Game 1, while Cody Bellinger He led the attack in the second match. Luis Garcia Jr., Austin Wells, George Lombard Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Spencer Jones They also made important contributions.
That doesn't mean the Yankees are better without Judge. A healthy Aaron Judge transforms any lineup.
What it means is that the team is not obligated to speed up its return simply because it cannot produce without it.
Cam Schlittler can become a strategic piece of the series
Rotation depth offers Boone several possibilities after game 1.
Cam Schlittler He is aligned to work early on the series after dominating Boston during the Wild Card. The right-hander finished the regular season with a 1.95 ERA and returned to show in October that he can respond under pressure.
One of the advantages of using it after Cole is that, depending on the schedule and how the series progresses, Schlittler could become available again for a possible fifth game.
In a best-of-five series, having one of the most dominant arms of the available team twice can become a deciding factor.
Carlos Rodón and Max Fried increase the depth
the situation of Carlos Rodon It shows the level of options that New York currently has.
The left-hander closed the regular season by pitching eight blank innings precisely against Tampa Bay and finished his last four starts with a 1.42 ERA.
Rodon was considered to open the first meeting before the Yankees officially chose Cole.
It can now be used later within the rotation or even become a multi-entry alternative if Boone needs to modify the plan during a match.
Max Fried It also remains within the starter structure after launching six innings of a match race that eliminated Boston.
Cole, Schlittler, Fried and Rodon offer the Yankees something unusual in October: four starters capable of taking on an important match.
The sweep against Boston changed the ALDS landscape
Eliminating Boston in two games had a value that goes far beyond the rivalry.
If the Yankees had needed a third meeting, Cole would have had to launch and the organization would have arrived in Tampa with much less chance to organize his rotation.
Instead, Boone can start the series with Cole rested, keep Schlittler, Fried, and Rodón available and build the bullpen without having to recover arms after an elimination match.
The offensive also had an additional day to recover and the medical staff received more time to evaluate Judge.
In October, getting rest can be almost as important as getting a win.
The Wild Card roster also doesn't have to stay intact
Yankees can make modifications before starting the divisional series.
That opens up the ability to include additional launchers and reorganize the bench depending on the features of Tampa Bay.
Ryan Weathers He is in the arms that continue to advance in his recovery and could become an alternative for the bullpen. Tim Hill It also appears among the options that New York can reconsider for this round.
None of those movements should be considered official until the Yankees announce their final roster.
The possible presence of Judge will also have a direct effect on how many position players and how many pitchers will end up carrying Boone.
George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones are already contributing in October
One of the most interesting aspects of the Wild Card was the response of the young players.
George Lombard Jr. arrived in October at just 21 years old and immediately replied. In his postseason debut he hit three hits and continued to show the maturity that allowed him to earn an important place during the second half of the season.
Spencer Jones also contributed in a different way.
His speed and aggressiveness at the bases helped create pressure on Boston during the rally that ended up breaking the second match.
Not all decisive plays in October arrive with home runs. Getting to First on a ball escape, stealing a base, forcing a bad shot, or moving a runner can also change the development of a series.
Tampa Bay represents a completely different challenge
The sweep against Boston already belongs to the past.
The Rays finished the regular season with 98 wins, five more than the Yankees, and won seven of the 13 clashes between the two teams.
Tampa Bay will also have the advantage of starting the series at home and will arrive rested after avoiding the Wild Card round.
Drew Rasmussen will be the Rays starter for Game 1 and represents a major challenge for a New York offensive that will have to maintain the same discipline shown against Boston.
The Yankees cannot enter this series thinking that the 9-0 and 9-2 results of the previous round will have some effect on Tampa.
The Yankees need to maintain the formula that worked against Boston
One of the most encouraging aspects of the Wild Card was that New York did not depend exclusively on the home run.
The Yankees got hits with runners in scoring position, used speed, stole bases, generated pressure on the defense and took advantage of mistakes.
Against Boston they ended up batting 9 of 20 with runners in scoring position.
This type of production can take on even greater importance against Tampa Bay, where there will probably be fewer opportunities to build large rallies.
The real challenge starts now
The Yankees arrive at ALDS in better conditions than they could imagine before starting the previous round.
The rotation is rested. Cole is ready for game 1. Schlittler comes from dominating. Fried replied. rodon is available. The bullpen was not squeezed and the offensive found different ways to produce.
The great unknown is still Aaron Judge.
If the captain proves that he can return without seriously compromising his recovery, adding him to an offense that has just produced 18 runs would be a huge addition.
If you are not ready yet, these Yankees have already shown that they have to go ahead without using their absence as an excuse.
Boston was left behind.
Now Tampa Bay begins.
And from Saturday, everything starts again from scratch.