New York Yankees: Surviving Biggest Weakness Provides Playoff Hope

The New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night despite getting just one out from starter Luis Severino. Overcoming that disappointing performance is encouraging for the Yankees moving forward.

Talk about overcoming adversity. Joe Girardi was forced to pull his starting pitcher Luis Severino after just 0.1 innings in the do-or-die American League Wild Card Game. New York Yankees season hung in the balance.

Going into the 2017 season and continuing throughout the year, the biggest concern about the New York Yankees was their lack of quality starting pitching. However, as the regular season came to a close, it seemed as though the Yankees had found their ace in 23-year-old Luis Severino.

When Tuesday came around, however, Severino reverted back to 2016 form. Sevy wasted no time, serving up a leadoff home run to Brian Dozier. He then got Joe Mauer to foul out to third for what would be the only out he recorded. A walk to Jorge Polanco was followed by a two-run homer by Eddie Rosario. Then a single to Eduardo Escobar and double by Max Kepler would end Severino’s day way earlier than anyone could have expected, allowing three runs over just 0.1 innings in his playoff debut.

The New York Yankees biggest weakness looked like it would take them down. That is until Chad Green came to the rescue. Coming out of the pen with runners on second and third and one out, Green picked up back-to-back strikeouts to keep the game from getting out of hand.

Then, a game-tying three-run bomb by Didi Gregorius in the bottom of the first reset the score and swung the momentum over to the Bronx Bombers.

Chad Green would end up going two innings, giving up one run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts.

When Green got into trouble, David Robertson came on to put out the fire. Robertson was masterful Tuesday night, going 3.1 shutout innings, giving up three hits, one walk, and striking out a career-high five batters. D-Rob could prove to be the biggest midseason acquisition after giving the Yankees 52 pitches out of the bullpen.

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Not to be outdone by his former Chicago White Sox teammate, Tommy Kahnle got out of Robertson’s jam in the sixth and would go on to pitch 2.1 perfect innings including one strikeout.

A solo shot from Brett Gardner, RBI single by Greg Bird, two-run laser from Aaron Judge, and bases-loaded walk by Aaron Hicks would give the Yankees eight runs and a four-run lead heading into the ninth inning.

Aroldis Chapman would come in to seal that four-run lead by striking out the side in the ninth and giving the New York Yankees an 8-4 victory.

Is starting pitching a concern for the New York Yankees in these playoffs? Perhaps. However, they just got the worst possible starting pitching performance they could have gotten and still found a way to win.

A loaded bullpen (8.2 IP, 1 ER, 13 K on Tuesday) and power-hitting lineup (3 HR on Tuesday) might just be able to carry this team through the playoffs.

The Cleveland Indians are going to be a tough opponent in the American League Division Series. They have a loaded bullpen of their own, a deep lineup, and one of the best starting rotations in baseball. They also have playoff experience after winning the AL pennant last year, which can’t be overlooked.

However, after winning a game that started in the worst possible fashion, the New York Yankees should be encouraged moving forward. There’s something about this team. They never count themselves out and always believe they’re in it. No matter the situation, you feel like they still have a chance to win. Just look at their comeback against the Baltimore Orioles on April 28.

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Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins was another perfect example of this team’s tenacity. Hopefully, the New York Yankees will continue this special season and pop plenty of more champagne in their pursuit of the franchise’s 28th World Series championship.

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