This weekend, the winner of the Division Series between the Kansas City Royals and the Baltimore Orioles will play the New York Yankees. They have the same opportunity as any other team to win the World Series, but it will take a long and difficult journey to get there.
The Yankees’ rotation was deep and full of quality a few weeks ago. Nestor Cortes was in good condition, Gerrit Cole was on the rise, and the only player who had left supporters with doubts about his dependability was Marcus Stroman.
But things take place over such an extended season. After suffering an injury, Cortes is now unlikely to pitch in the postseason; Stroman remains untrustworthy; and Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt struggled in their last starts of the season.
Gil let up six runs in 5.2 innings on Saturday in the Pirates game. At first, home runs (a whopping four) were a bigger problem than walks (only one).
Gil’s performance might not be as alarming if his prior start hadn’t seen him give up four runs. Over the course of his last two turns, the gifted rookie has allowed 10 runs.
Then, on Sunday, Schmidt gave up four earned runs in four innings while striking out five batters and recording four walls. Although the field wasn’t in the best of shape, Schmidt’s outing was plagued by control lapses.
Their two young, native righties should worry the Yankees at least a bit. Carlos Rodon ought to start after Cole as the first starter in the Division Series. Following that? It’s a puzzle.
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