With the World Series between the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers about to begin on Friday, the team met with the media on Thursday to talk about a number of topics.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about the pitching plans for the first few games of the series, and how he feels heading into his first World Series as a skipper.
Here are some notes on what was said on Thursday…
Gleyber Torres the ‘catalyst’ for Yankees offense
Torres has been a great under-the-radar performer the second half of the regular season and in the postseason so far.
Since he was moved back into the leadoff spot, Torres has sparked the Yankees lineup and that hasn’t been more true than in the playoffs. The second baseman is 11-for-37 (.297) with a home run and five RBI over the team’s nine postseason games.
He’s had a hit in all but two of those games and has an OBP of .400.
Boone was asked about Torres and his resurgence in the leadoff spot on Thursday ahead of Game 1 of the World Series.
“He’s a really good hitter, has been throughout his career,” Boone said. “We broke camp and I was leading him off. Had a really good spring and for whatever reason…I choke it up to baseball.”
Boone said despite Torres’ struggles — he entered June hitting just .229 — the Yankees skipper liked his infielder’s approach and his ability to lay off bad pitches and swing at good ones. Boone was also confident that this version of Torres would emerge eventually, and it did.
“I always felt like it’s a guy in the prime of his career that’s always hit, waters going to find its level. He’ll get there in the long 162 season. When I put him back at leadoff, the at-bats were starting to get more and more consistent…and put him in there and he’s absolutely been a catalyst for us and a big reason why we’re sitting here right now.”
Latest on Nestor Cortes, World Series roster
The Yankees’ World Series roster will be set Friday ahead of Game 1 and the question is whether Nestor Cortes will make the cut.
Cortes is rehabbing a UCL injury but the southpaw says he’s ready to pitch and will worry about the potential repercussions later especially if it means winning a World Series.
Boone said that Cortes got through his bullpen session and that the team will see how he feels today before making a decision.
As for whether the team plans to carry 13 pitchers, Boone says that will probably be the case.
”I still want to get through today with Nestor and see where we’re at,” he said.
World Series Game 2 and 3 starters confirmed
Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Yankees in Game 1, as you’d expect, but there was some mystery as to who will toe the rubber for Game 2.
The obvious choice was for Carlos Rodon to get the start but manager Aaron Boone and the rest of the organization wanted to keep it as close to the vest as possible.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported earlier this week that Rodon was the expected starter for the second game and Clarke Schmidt will take the mound in Game 3. Both pitchers confirmed to the media Thursday during the World Series media day that is the pitching plan.
Rodon has made three starts this postseason. He allowed four runs in 3.2 innings in the Yankees’ loss to the Royals in the ALDS but he bounced back to win Game 1 of the ALCS against the Guardians, allowing just one run over six innings.
In Game 5, Rodon allowed only two runs but Boone allowed his starter to go just 4.2 innings in an eventual Yankees win.
As for Schmidt, he’s only pitched twice — both in the ALCS — and had identical outings. He allowed two runs in both starts and went only 4.2 innings.
