Duke Ellis in, Marcus Stroman out: Yankees finalize their ALDS roster

6 Oct 2024

NorthJersey.com

Duke Ellis in Marcus Stroman out Yankees finalize their ALDS roster

Veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman did not have a defined role for at least the first round of the playoffs, and he was left off the Yankees' best-of-five"...

NEW YORK - Speedy outfielder Duke Ellis, who played just three games with the 2024 Yankees, has made the AL Division Series roster cut, while veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman was left off.

The Yankees have gone with 11 pitchers for the best-of-five ALDS against the Kansas City Royals, taking 15 position players - a strategy due in part to off days after Games 1, 2, and 4.

And with the Game 1 starting lineup, manager Aaron Boone went with Alex Verdugo in left field over Jasson Dominguez and Oswaldo Cabrera at first base over Ben Rice and Jon Berti.

Gleyber Torres, 2B
Juan Soto, RF
Aaron Judge, CF
Austin Wells, C
Giancarlo Stanton DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B
Anthony Volpe, SS
Oswaldo Cabrera, 1B
Alex Verdugo, LF

With ace Gerrit Cole on the mound, Boone chose the superior left field defender in Verdugo. "I just felt it was the right thing to do,'' said Boone, who still likes the lefty-hitting Verdugo's chances of impacting a game offensively.

It could be a game-to-game decision with the left field starter. At first base, Berti is "definitely in the mix'' with Rice, according to Boone.

But Cabrera "deserved to be in there'' for Game 1, said Boone, who has also liked the way Berti looked at first base in workout sessions (he's never previously played the position at the big-league level).

Here's the roster the Yankees will roll out beginning Saturday night at Yankee Stadium:

Yankees' postseason rotation (4)*

Gerrit Cole, RHP

Carlos Rodon, LHP

Clarke Schmidt, RHP*

Luis Gil, RHP*

Missed the cut: RHPs Marcus Stroman.

Analysis: Manager Aaron Boone telegraphed this decision on Stroman, who had an undefined postseason role - at least for the first round series - with Cole and Rodon able to come back on regular rest in Games 4 and 5, if necessary.

"Hard decision obviously,'' Boone said Saturday of Stroman, "especially going down to the end still considering 12 pitchers...but just felt like for the role in this series, it was better to go with another reliever.''

Stroman pitched to a 6.29 ERA over his last 10 games (nine starts), with an opponents' batting average of .361 against him, and an .865 OPS.

Nestor Cortes’ strained flexor tendon is a big hit to the Yankees’ staff, leaving Schmidt and Gil as the choices to start Game 3. Both will be available out of the bullpen for at least Game 1 and possibly Game 2.

Yankees' relief pitchers (7)

Luke Weaver, RHP

Ian Hamilton, RHP

Clay Holmes, RHP

Tommy Kahnle, RHP

Jake Cousins, RHP

Tim Hill, LHP

Tim Mayza, LHP

Missed the cut: RHPs Mark Leiter Jr., Clayton Beeter, Cody Poteet, Scott Effross, Will Warren.

Analysis: Hill's spot was secure, but the Yanks went with two veteran lefty relievers by also taking Mayza, who's "been a lefty killer over his career, and I feel like Tim's been throwing the ball well for us'' lately.

Cousins, who missed the final week-and-change of the regular season due to a pectoral strain, came through a bullpen session Tuesday and a live session on Thursday.

Leiter Jr. was acquired at the trade deadline to boost the Yanks' postseason chances, but he posted a 4.98 ERA in 21 games since coming over from the Chicago Cubs, yielding six homers in 21.2 innings.

Yankees' postseason infielders (6)

Ben Rice, 1B

Gleyber Torres, 2B

Anthony Volpe, SS

Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B

Jon Berti, IF

Oswaldo Cabrera, IF

Missed the cut: Anthony Rizzo, Oswald Peraza, DJ LeMahieu.

Analysis: Rizzo (fractured fingers, right hand) was "a long shot'' for ALDS inclusion, and he ruled himself out on Friday, though he's hopeful of being ready if the Yanks advance to the AL Championship Series.

The ALCS is "certainly in play'' for Rizzo, said Boone, who was "encouraged with what I saw'' in Rizzo's cage work on Friday. "It was actually pretty good, so I think (the next round) is certainly a possibility.''

In an extremely rough season, LeMahieu was just ramping up baseball activity this week due to a right hip impingement that forced him to the IL Sept. 6.

Yankees' postseason outfielders/DH (7)

Aaron Judge

Juan Soto

Jasson Dominguez

Alex Verdugo

Giancarlo Stanton

Trent Grisham

Duke Ellis

Analysis: A stolen base threat and a plus outfield defender, Ellis could be an important figure off the bench in a close game.

Grisham reminded the Yanks again of his worth in Sunday’s regular season finale, belting a two-run homer and flashing his Gold Glove center field in a rare start.

The switch-hitting Dominguez’s role could be flexible this series, though he's in the mix for starts. As for Verdugo, "I still feel like he has a good run of offense in him, too,'' said Boone.

“The playoffs is every pitch, every inning, every at-bat matters,’’ said Verdugo. “It’s no longer about what you did in the season. It’s about how clutch you can be (now).’’