The New York Yankees released the 25-man roster for the American League Wild Card game early Tuesday morning. As expected, the Yankees carried 10 pitchers, and two extra bench players. The roster is as follows:
Last week, the Yankees indicated Tyler Wade was being considered as a pinch-running option for the duration of the postseason, similar to the role Brett Gardner played in 2009. For an extra outfielder, the Yankees added Clint Frazier.
The Yankees haven’t announced their starting lineup yet, but either Chase Headley, Todd Frazier or Matt Holliday will sit on the bench. There is also the debate of whether to start Jacoby Ellsbury or Aaron Hicks tonight. Ellsbury and Hicks have been hitting the ball during the month of September, but Hicks is better defensively.
Sonny Gray and CC Sabathia were added to the roster to provide depth in case Luis Severino falters. Sabathia also has excellent career numbers against Joe Mauer; he’s 10-for-52 (.192) with 20 strikeouts. The surprise is Masahiro Tanaka did not make the Wild Card roster, and you wonder if that would change if the Yankees were to win the Wild Card game and advance to the ALDS.
Jordan Montgomery, who pitched in Sunday’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, understandably didn’t make the roster.
