James Paxton

New York Yankees: Great James Paxton injury news quiets pitching doubts

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

The New York Yankees have little room for additional injuries with the postseason just around the bend, and when starting pitcher and rotation-man in October, James Paxton, went down in the first inning on Friday night, everyone held their breath.

After just one inning, Paxton left the game with a tight glute — a not-so significant-sounding injury but one nonetheless. Manager Aaron Boone downplayed the ailment picked up by Paxton, stating that the move was precautionary given how close the Yankees are to the playoffs.

Moose threw just 21 pitches before being plucked, and there’s no room for error with the postseason. Paxton will be a pivotal option moving forward and will undoubtedly be a part of the three-person rotation, especially with Luis Severino still working through his initial exposure to the league this season.

Game 1 of the postseason will likely go to Paxton if he can remain healthy, but Severino is capable of being the team’s ace regardless.

“I don’t think it is going to be anything serious,’’ Paxton insisted.

With the loss of Domingo German for the postseason, the Yankees need to rest their starters and not overwork them. Fatigue plays a factor in the efficiency of players, especially pitchers. The Yanks will have home-field advantage for the ALDS, giving them a leg up on their opponent, who is the Minnesota Twins, a powerhouse in the scoring production.

However, the Bombers still don’t have a definitive game-plan, which is why general manager Brian Cashman is tagging along with the team to help Boone situate his active roster.

Additional New York Yankees injury news:

First-baseman Edwin Encarnacion will likely miss the rest of the regular season but return for the postseason.

“Just something he and I talked about. He hit on the field and looked good, but I think mentally he is not over the hump yet,’’ Aaron Boone said of Encarnacion.

The Yanks need their primary designated hitter to be active for the playoffs as Giancarlo Stanton will be starting in the outfield due to the number of injuries that have piled up.

New York Yankees: James Paxton exits after one inning with an apparent injury

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

New York Yankees’ left-handed star James Paxton was removed from his start after one inning Friday night against the Texas Rangers. Ben Heller replaced Paxton’s start and manager Aaron Boone requested that Heller get more warmup tosses which could mean only one thing – Paxton suffered an injury.

Paxton threw 21 pitches after allowing two runs in the bottom of the first. He didn’t look his normal self, allowing three hits in the first while only fanning one. Michael Kay even mentioned that he believed Paxton looked uncomfortable and not himself.

Aaron Boone was anticipating that Paxton throw four or five innings depending on how well he was throwing, there was no plan of him only going one inning.

“We might go a little bit shorter with him,” said Boone. “Still expect him to get a lot of work and hopefully he pitches at least into the middle innings.”

The 30-year-old is a big part of the New York Yankees’ postseason plans as many believe he would be the game one start for the American League Divison Series. If the Yankees were unfortunate to lost Paxton, this would put a big dent in their postseason plans as they already lost Domingo German and Dellin Betances.

Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino are believed to be the other starters for the postseason.

Paxton has been the ace of the staff for the last few months of the season where’s he’s credited to a 15-6 record and a 3.73 ERA. He’s won his last ten starts and has looked unbelievable.

 

New York Yankees: Expect Luis Severino to make huge impact for the postseason

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

New York Yankees’ right-hander Luis Severino has only made two starts in the 2019 season but has looked like his normal ace self. He hasn’t allowed a run in nine total innings pitched where he’s fanned 13 respectively in that time.

The Yankees are building up Severino’s pitch count and innings which could only mean they are intending on bringing him back as a starter or back-end starter.

“To me, he’s demonstrated enough to be an option (as a starter),” said manager Aaron Boone. “We have a lot at stake moving forward here and we want to make sure we do everything we can to optimize that he’s a part of things.”

Regardless of what role they put Severino, he’s a big piece of the puzzle. Especially with Dellin Betances out for believed to be the rest of the season, having Severino healthy and back pitching is monumental for the club.

“Our ace is back,” said Aaron Judge. “I’m excited about it; just at the right time. He’s coming back, he’s healthy and that’s the most important thing. I really don’t care what he’s doing right now on the mound but just as long as he’s healthy and we have him for the postseason, I think we’ll be in a good spot.”

Severino has been sidelined for the majority of the season with a right lat and rotator cuff strain.

Last season with the New York Yankees, Severino went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA and 220 strikeouts over 191.1 innings pitched. After clutching up and delivering the win during the Wild Card game against the Oakland Athletics, Severino severely struggled against the Boston Red Sox in game three of the ALDS.

The expected rotation for the postseason consists of James Paxton, Luis Severino, and Masahiro Tanaka. J.A. Happ and C.C. Sabathia have both been moved to the bullpen since they haven’t proven a starting role for the playoffs.

 

New York Yankees will likely pursue starting pitcher Gerrit Cole in free agency

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The New York Yankees could pursue Gerrit Cole this offseason.

The downfall of the New York Yankees this postseason could be their starting pitching. Fortunately, they gained back ace, Luis Severino just several weeks ago after missing a majority of the year with shoulder issues. His return will surely help the rotation and give them a much-needed boost for the playoffs. However, they have struggled this season as a unit at times.

The decision to extend J.A. Happ now seems like a bad one considering the options that were available on the market. Patrick Corbin was heavily linked to the Yankees before signing on with the Washington Nationals. He has a collective 3.05 ERA and would have led the team in overall efficiency and productivity this season.

The Yankees still managed to crawl their way to a 102-56 record despite a plethora of injuries and inconsistencies across the team.

The New York Yankees must sure up the starting rotation:

Next off-season provides an opportunity for the Yankees to shore up there starting rotation. Astros co-ace Gerrit Cole is a very intriguing option that general manager Brian Cashman will undoubtedly consider.

Cole earned $13.5 million via arbitration this season, and he owns a 19-5 record with a 2.5 to ERA in 32 starts this year for Houston. He has only walked 46 batters in 207 1/3 innings.

Adding a player of Cole’s quality to the Yankees rotation would make them one of the most feared in the league. Imagine this — Cole, Severino, Tanaka, Paxton, Happ.

While injuries will arise because that is simply what happens to the Yankees, this rotation would be feared and intimidating for any opposing team. During the 2017-18 season, the Yankees were interested in Cole and were engaged with the Pittsburgh Pirates in a potential trade, but they were unwilling to surrender third baseman Miguel Andujar in a deal. This time around, I imagine they will be more insistent on his services.

 

New York Yankees: What the ideal postseason starting pitching rotation looks like

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

The New York Yankees are getting closer to the playoffs with every passing day, and their starting pitching rotation will need to be situated before the first round commences. Another stout outing from Luis Severino has given the Yankees hope in regards to the quality they will feature in the rotation moving forward.

Going five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and earning nine strikeouts, Severino gaining essential momentum.

“It’s really important for me to see him staying within his delivery,” Boone said, according to the NY Post. “I thought he did a great job of that his first time out. As well as having all of the electricity that we’re used to seeing with [Severino] on the mound, his fastball and his fastball command the last time out is something I was really impressed with.”

The New York Yankees will face adversity:

The postseason has a lot of questions in store for the Bombers, especially when it comes to their pitching. If they can manage with a three-person rotation, Boone could look to feature Severino, James Paxton, and Masahiro Tanaka. However, it could be too much to ask of Seve, the Yankees ace.

He has only pitched nine innings this season and hasn’t gone over five innings.

With Domingo German facing severe domestic violence allegations, it’s unlikely he features during the postseason, which hurts the Yankees significantly. This will force Boone to rely on Paxton, one of the team’s better pitching options this season.

Paxton has earned a 3.73 ERA this season with 185 strikeouts, the second-most in his seven-year career. He will be a seasoned veteran in the playoffs and offers a steady arm that can be relied on. Tanaka, on the other hand, is a stellar postseason pitcher and will once again be featured in the rotation.

Tanaka has had a rough season, though, as he’s sitting on a 4.47 ERA, the second-highest in his career. Despite his woes, he is expected to elevate his game and produce beyond the regular season.

It’s also possible the Yankees utilize J.A. Happ in the rotation as a precaution for Severino, but I anticipate them relying on the three mentioned above.

New York Yankees: Paxton Acquires his 10th-Straight Victory, Yankees’ Triumph 7-2

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New York Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton

The definition of domination in two words: James Paxton. Paxton, who acquired his 10th-straight win on Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays, performed with excellence. He pitched 6.0 solid innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs and struck out 7 batters on 87 pitches.

Paxton was not responsible for an earned run due to an error committed by Didi Gregorius in the top of the 3rd. Jonathan Davis took advantage of the mistake, driving in an RBI single and giving the Jays their first and only lead of the game.

Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Ford led the offensive force in the bottom of the 4th. Stanton crushed an RBI double to left field and Ford blooped an RBI single into center field, granting the Yanks with a 2-1 lead.

The offense picked back up in the bottom of the 6th, tacking on a 4-run rally. Stanton absolutely demolished a solo shot to left field, traveling 420-feet with an exit velocity of 111.5 MPH. Clint Frazier extended the lead with an RBI double to left field, followed by a 2-run single to right field off the bat of Kyle Higashioka.

Teoscar Hernandez recorded the last run for the Jays in the top of the 7th. Hernandez smoked an RBI double, cutting the deficit to a 4-run ballgame. Ford, who was scorching-hot at the plate, increased the lead back to 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th. With the speedy Cameron Maybin on 2nd base, Ford smashed in an RBI single to right field.

The bullpen, which consisted of Jonathan Loaisiga and Chad Green, closed out the rest of the game. Loaisiga pitched 2.0 innings and gave up 1 earned run and struck out 5 batters on 32 pitches. Green pitched 1.0 inning and struck out 3 batters on 15 pitches, sealing the deal. The New York Yankees now possess a 101-55 (.647) record and are just behind the Houston Astros in terms of acquiring home-field advantage.

New York Yankees: Aaron Boone’s pitching plan for the postseason is “untraditional”

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New York Yankees, Aaron Boone

New York Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone said that the team will play by their own rules come October. Since the Yankees have been plagued with injuries all season, Boone plans to work many games being a little creative.

“We’re going to be a little untraditional,” said Boone. “The only one we might use as a traditional starter is (James) Paxton.”

Paxton has been on fire recently for the Yankees after a hiccup earlier in the season. The left-hander has won his last nine consecutive starts and has a 14-6 record. The most dominant start he’s had this month came against the Texas Rangers where he went seven full frames allowing one hit and fanning 12.

The New York Yankees intend to utilize the “opener” strategy for the postseason. Their primary opener will most likely be Chad Green, who’s been overall dominate in that role.

Domingo German, who’s been a starter all season, is planned to follow the opener if they choose to go that route. He’s also expected to fill a variety of roles, potentially being used as a traditional starter as well.

Luis Severino will most likely do the same thing German is doing. He’s intended to work up his pitch count and innings during the month of September.

CC Sabathia is likely not going to return as a starter, but potentially in the bullpen. He clearly cannot go the distance consistently, which is key for the playoffs. However, Sabathia can still get guys out so the New YorkYankees will still look to get him innings.

New York Yankees: An Ideal Starting Lineup for the Post-Season

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New York Yankees shortstop, Didi Gregorius.

Aaron Boone, the manager of the New York Yankees, has a fun, but challenging task of creating a lineup for the postseason.

The Yankees currently have the best record in baseball at 95-51, are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and have an 8.5 game lead on the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees have one more two-game set against the Rays, at Tropicana Field, near the end of the month (MLB.com).

With the recent news of Hicks possibly needing Tommy John surgery and Tauchman being out the rest of the season, that opens up some spots in the outfield on the postseason roster. Stanton is the candidate to get the starting spot in left once he comes back off the IL. Clint Frazier could see an increase in playing time as well and will most likely make the postseason roster with all of these injuries.

What should the Starting Lineup Look Like in the Post-Season?

Once everyone comes back from injury, an ideal lineup would look like this: Lemahieu (3B), Judge (RF), Sanchez (C), Encarnacion (DH), Stanton (LF), Voit (1B), Torres (2B), Gregorius (SS), and Gardner (CF). Even for the Astros pitching, that would be a tough lineup to get through.  The balanced hitting of Lemahieu and Judge will set up the middle of the order, where all of the power comes from. Then, the sneaky home run leader, Torres, will add value to the bottom-third of the lineup. Gardner, a player that always seems to make something happen, whether it’s drawing a walk or stealing a base, is a perfect nine hitter to set up the top of the lineup.

Some key players off the bench would be: Gio Urshela (3B), for his electric plays on defense and consistent bat, Cameron Maybin (OF), for his veteran presence and ability to everything he asked to do at a high level, and Austin Romine (C), for his ability to lead as a veteran and come up clutch in big moments at the plate. He also seems to bond well with the pitchers and gives them extra confidence the mound.

Also, for the ALDS, Boone should most likely have Paxton start game 1 with his recent success. Tanaka game 2, Severino game 3, and German open up game 4, with Sabathia and/or Happ, right behind Severino or German. Severino will need some time to get back to his full durability audit may not be this season. German has also thrown a lot of innings this year and they should be careful with his arm. This plan would allow The Yankees could be smart to utilize all of their options to keep everyone fresh out of the bullpen.

Using this strategy, Boone can help lead the New York Yankees to their first World Series in a decade.

New York Yankees: Another Dominant Outing by Paxton, Yanks Rout Sox 5-0

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

James Paxton, known as the scorching hot ace for the New York Yankees, unleashed his full capabilities on Monday night against the Boston Red Sox. Big Maple pitched a solid 6.2 innings, allowing 4 hits, no runs and struck out 7 batters on 107 pitches. Just as Paxton remained consistent, Zack Britton, Cory Gearrin and Tyler Lyons continued to dominant and shutout the Sox. Quite fitting that the only time this season the Sox have been shutout in Fenway was tonight. Oh, and the Yankees were responsible for this devastating travesty.

Austin Romine, who went 2 for 2 with 2 walks and 1 homer, started off the scoring process with a bang. In the top of the 5th, Romine clobbered a solo shot to right field, traveling 389-feet with an exit velocity of 101.2 MPH.

The Yanks tacked on a 3-run rally in the top of the 7th, with Gio Urshela, DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres committing the punching. Urshela, without skipping a beat, demolished a solo shot over the Green Monster, traveling 324-feet with an exit velocity of 97.5 MPH. LeMahieu, known as the machine, smoked an RBI single into right field. Torres finished off the inning with a sacrifice fly  deep enough to bring Aaron Judge home.

In the top of the 9th, Luke Voit recorded the final run of the game for the Yanks. With the bases loaded and 1 out, a struggling Voit ripped an RBI single into left field. Lyons, who has an enormous 7.71 ERA, made quick work of the Sox in the bottom of the 9th, striking out 1 batter in the process. Urshela, who has been a highlight maniac with the leather this season, executed another impressive play and lifted the Yanks to a 5-0 victory.

The Red Sox are now 8.0 games back from clinching a Wild Card spot and officially eliminated from obtaining 1st in the AL East. The Bronx Bombers possess a 95-50 (.655) record and are tied with the Houston Astros for the best record in the league. The remaining games left in September will prove to be bitter between the Astros and Yankees, who are constantly battling each other for home-field advantage in October.

New York Yankees: Behind Paxton’s Brilliance and 5 Homers, Yanks Rout Rangers 10-1

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New York Yankees, James Paxton

After suffering a 7-0 defeat to the Texas Rangers on Monday afternoon, the New York Yankees looked forward to achieving revenge. James Paxton, who was tremendous in the month of August, recorded a 3.57 ERA, 4.04 FIP and a 1.08 WHIP in 35.1 innings pitched. On Tuesday night, Big Maple performed with fire in his heart through 7 innings, allowing only 1 hit, no runs and struck out an incredible 12 batters on 95 pitches. This is the true ace that everyone has been expecting since the blockbuster trade back in November of 2018.

The offense exploded tonight, which included 5 homers and a 6-run rally in the bottom of the 6th. Gary Sanchez led off the charge in the bottom of the 1st, hammering a deep, 2-run blast to center field, traveling 408-feet with an exit velocity of 110.7 MPH. The Kraken had unfinished business, but we will cover that story in a moment.

As Paxton continued to deal throughout the game and displayed his true potential as an ace, the offense accelerated in the bottom of the 6th. To begin the 6-run rally, Sir Didi Gregorius launched a gorgeous, 3-run shot to right field, traveling 402-feet with an exit velocity of 104.1 MPH.

Remember when I stated that we would discuss Gary Sanchez again at a later time? Well, the Sanchino himself, launched a solo shot immediately after Gregorius, traveling 412-feet with an exit velocity of 110.7 MPH. This blast signified his 34th homer on the season, which is more than any catcher has possessed in Yankees history. The legend himself also collected his 14th career multi-home run game in 365 games, which is the 2nd fastest in MLB history.

After a spectacular grab but a poor throw to 1st base by Elvis Andrus, which resulted in a base hit for Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Gardner joined the home run derby with a towering, 2-run knock to right field, traveling 370-feet with an exit velocity of 102.6 MPH. Interestingly enough, Gardy is closing in on surpassing his previous home run record in a season, which was 21 dingers in 2017. He currently is one shy of tying and two of shattering his record.

The Yankees also produced damage in the bottom of the 7th. After Sanchez took a baseball off the elbow and trotted to 1st base like the champion he is, Encarnacion smoked a 2-run shot to left field, traveling 386-feet with an exit velocity of 104.4 MPH. Keep in mind, Eddy just returned to the Bronx after a couple of rehab games in Scranton with the RailRiders. I’d say he is locked in and hasn’t skipped a beat since his last at-bat in early August.

By the time the ballgame was completely beyond reach, Scott Heineman blasted a solo shot to right field, which so happened to be his first homer in his major league career. Gregorius recorded the last out at 1st base, granting the Yankees a 10-1 victory over the Rangers and the rest is history. The New York Yankees now possess a 91-49 (.650) record and are the best club in the majors.