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.):
- 2B DJ LeMahieu
- LF Miguel Andujar
- SS Gleyber Torres
- DH/1B Mike Ford
- C Gary Sanchez
- 1B/DH Luke Voit
- CF Mike Tauchman
- RF Clint Frazier
- 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:
- OF Brett Gardner
- INF/OF Rosell Hererra
- C Kyle Higashioka
- 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!
- RHP Gerrett Cole
- LHP Jordan Montgomery
- RHP Masahiro Tanaka
- LHP J.A. Happ
- 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:
- CP LHP Aroldis Chapman
- SU RHP Adam Ottavino
- SU LHP Zack Britton
- MR RHP Chad Green
- MR RHP Tommy Kahnle
- MR RHP Johnathan Loaisiga
- MR RHP Luis Cessa
- 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:
- OF Giancarlo Stanton – 1st to 2nd week of April
- LHP James Paxton – Late April to early May.
- OF Aaron judge – Early April
- RHP Luis Severino – Sometime in 2021. Way to early to tell.
- OF Aaron Hicks – Around late May to mid June per Aaron Boone
- 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
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