Mid Spring Training Opening Day Lineup Prediction:

As we hit the mid point in ST here is my opening day lineup prediction for the Yankees:

Lets get started with the lineup which has a few unexpected surprises (NOTE: I accumulated this based of what is going on right now and what BOTH Cashman and Boone have said.):

1. 2B DJ LeMahieu
2. LF Miguel Andujar
3. SS Gleyber Torres
4. DH/1B Mike Ford
5. C Gary Sanchez
6. 1B/DH Luke Voit
7. CF Mike Tauchman
8. RF Clint Frazier
9. 3B Gio Urshella

As I said a few surprises with Judge and Stanton out whom I’ll touch on later.

Here is the bench as it stands right now:

1. OF Brett Gardner
2. INF/OF Rosell Hererra
3. C Kyle Higashioka
4. INF Thairo Estrada

Very interesting but this is it as it stands right now. These are the guys on the bench come opening day as far as I can tell. Ianetta has looked amazing but won’t crack the roster unless Higgy gets traded.

Now for the rotation with a few unwanted surprises as well. I will rank them as they are lined up RIGHT NOW!

1. RHP Gerrett Cole
2. LHP Jordan Montgomery
3. RHP Masahiro Tanaka
4. LHP J.A. Happ
5. RHP Mike King

Yes I am giving Mike King the edge. He has MLB experienced and the Yankees don’t seem ready to hand it to Schmidt yet. Garcia doesn’t seem likely to get a shot for a few months yet.

Time for the bullpen:

1. CP LHP Aroldis Chapman
2. SU RHP Adam Ottavino
3. SU LHP Zack Britton
4. MR RHP Chad Green
5. MR RHP Tommy Kahnle
6. MR RHP Johnathan Loaisiga
7. MR RHP Luis Cessa
8. LR RHP David Hale

This is as it stands right now but the 8th spot where I have hale is up for grabs no pitcher yet to really grab it. I would love to see Avilan or Lyons get a spot to have a 3rd lefty in the pen but we’ll see.

Lets finally look at the IL with predicted return dates. I will also include suspensions here:

1. OF Giancarlo Stanton – 1st to 2nd week of April
2. LHP James Paxton – Late April to early May.
3. OF Aaron judge – Early April
4. RHP Luis Severino – Sometime in 2021. Way to early to tell.
5. OF Aaron Hicks – Around late May to mid June per Aaron Boone
6. RHP Domingo German – Suspension till All Star Break.

That’s it. All these are last years injuries not handled right by last year’s training staff that got canned.

The last thing t mention is who gets the boot when Judge, Stanton and Paxton get back? I would say Frazier for ether Stanton or Judge. then Estrada for the other. Remember Hererra can play everywhere on the diamond and is to valuable to DFA. For Paxton I assume David hale with King moving to the bullpen. When Hicks gets back it would be a Gardner DFA (As he is trending that way with terribly poor play) or Tauchman DFA if he is not producing.

Keep in mind a MINIMUM of 13 hitter is now required. I will analyse the actually opening day roster once its known. here you have it. A researched calculated prediction based of the goings on around Yankees camp.

BY: ADAM KING