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BOSTON – With two matches meaningless in the regular season, the Yankees still have no answer to their most significant question.
Manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees still had not decided who would launch the American League Wildcard Game, win-or-go-at-home, against the Oakland A's at Yankee Stadium.
He added that the club will have its most important discussions after Saturday's game with the Red Sox.
"We are going to discuss it at some length (Saturday night), we will meet and discuss it," he said. "The last two days (we) have started having these conversations casually, but after the game on Friday night, with a little more intention behind, but we will meet … and we will move closer to that decision. "
And Boone added some intrigue, scratching starting pitcher Luis Severino at his scheduled start Sunday.
Projection of the formation of Yankees Wild Cards, 2.0
He added "that there is a chance" that Severino can get out of the paddock, but Boone will talk with right-handed and throwing coach Larry Rothschild.
When asked if it could mean that Severino could be a corrector option – and not a starter – Wednesday, Boone deviated. Severino has not started since Tuesday.
Based on the rotation, J.A. Happ is aligned to start against Oakland. Happ pitched six innings in the 11-6 win over the Red Sox on Friday at Fenway Park. That would put him at rest normally before the playoff game.
He is the Yankees' best pitcher since their acquisition just before the break of the all-star game in an exchange with the Blue Jays. Happ is 7-0 with an average of 2.69 in 11 starts. He also made a good start against the Aces, having only six points in Oakland on Sept. 4.
On Friday, Happ said that he "would like" to start the Wild Card and that he is getting ready as he goes to get the go-ahead.
The Yankees are also planning to start Masahiro Tanaka, who has had a good second half and has not faced the A this season. In September, Tanaka earned a 2.79 ERA in five starts. He conceded three earned runs in a loss to the Rays on his final start of the season.]
In her last two starts, however, Tanaka has given three innings in the first inning at Tampa and four in the first three at the Red Sox. Holes like this could be disastrous in a playoff game.
Could the Yankees announce the start Sunday?
"Possible," said Boone. "I think … we'll get out of there [Saturday night] with a pretty strong idea of how we looked. I would say that it is possible [they announce on Sunday]. Hope we will have a good idea at the end of the day [Saturday]. "
Brendan Kuty can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
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