Looks like all hands on deck for Yankees and Astros pens - New York Post

Aaron Boone and A.J. Hinch were both asked who might start Game 6 in Houston on Saturday night following the Yankees’ 4-1 win to extend the ALCS in Game 5.

Both managers declined.

It’s a fitting situation, given the state of bullpens, with the two best teams in the American League embracing — or being forced into — the strategy.

Boone said Luis Severino would start a potential Game 7 rather than come back on short rest and he would face Gerrit Cole.

“[Saturday], we’ll just figure it out,’’ Boone said. “We’ll kind of talk about it tonight on the plane which way we want to go. But it will probably be a little bit of everyone.’’

Hinch also said they would piece it together.

J.A. Happ, who figures to be a part of the game, said he hadn’t heard when he might pitch.

“I’m always available,’’ Happ said. “It depends what they want to do. I don’t know the expectations would be. I’ll pitch as long as I can. I feel fine. I don’t know how long I can go.’’

That underlines the uncertainty going into a game like this — and one pitcher being off could throw off the entire game.

Adam Ottavino has struggled throughout the playoffs and is hoping for one more opportunity.

“I’ve gotten in, failed real quick and got out,’’ Ottavino said. “The good news is, it can’t be this bad forever.”

And like everyone else in the bullpen — including Tommy Kahnle, Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman, who pitched Friday — he said he’d be ready.

“This is what you want,’’ Ottavino said. “It doesn’t matter how you start, it’s how you finish.”

Ottavino said much of the pen would be ready from the second inning on — and James Paxton’s six-inning outing on Friday helped set them up.

The situation also impacts the lineups.

“You’d like to know the night before who you’re facing,’’ Aaron Judge said. “Have we released who we’re pitching? No? We’ll find out in the morning and do the homework.”

The Yankees have had success opening with Chad Green and he’s available Saturday.

“I think it’s both teams trying to get outs and trying to do it the best way we can,’’ Boone said. “We’ll just do our best to piece it together.”

And the bullpen is on board.

“Anything for a World Series championship,’’ Britton said. “Those are hard to come by. We’ll enjoy the time off in the offseason. It’s all hands on deck right now.”

Let's block ads! (Why?)