Yankees' Aaron Boone names Wild Card Game starter: J.A. Happ, Luis Severino or Masahiro Tanaka? What it means

by Felix Pantaleón

The Yankees will face the A’s in the American League Wild Card Game on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 (10/3/18) at Yankee Stadium.

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NEW YORK — After weeks of strategizing and debating and thinking, Yankees manager Aaron Boone finally has decided on a starter for the American League Wild Card Game.

All-Star righty Luis Severino was picked over All-Star lefty J.A. Happ and righty Masahiro Tanaka to face the Oakland Athletics in Wednesday night’s game at Yankee Stadium.

“We met Saturday night as a staff and (GM Brian Cashman) came up to Boston,” Boone said. “We talked through it. A lot of guys had input in the decision with reasons one way or the other. I just took all that information and sleep on it. I felt like at some point Sunday for sure that I wanted to go with Sevy in this game and that’s where we’re at with it.”

The Wild Card winner will advance to a best-of-five Division Series against the Boston Red Sox that begins Friday night at Fenway Park.

Yankees’ scouting reports on Athletics for AL Wild Card Game

Severino (19-8) will be starting on seven days rest, as he hasn’t pitched since Sept. 25 when he allowed two runs over five innings in a winning effort at Tampa Bay.

“I think he’s ready for this,” Boone said. “He’ll be pitching with plenty of rest. I feel really comfortable going with Sevy and think he’ll get us off to a good start.”

His only start this season against the Athletics didn’t go well, as he was roughed up for six runs over 2 2/3 innings in a loss at Oakland on Sept. 5.

This will be the second AL Wild Card Game start in two seasons for Severino. Last year’s start at Yankee Stadium was a disaster, as he was knocked out with one out in the first of the inning by the Minnesota Twins, who raced to an early 3-0 lead before falling 8-4 to the Yankees.

Severino ended up finishing his first postseason with a 1-1 record and 5.63 ERA over four starts, allowing 10 runs in 16 innings with 12 strikeouts and 10 walks.

His 2018 season has been his best, but he was just 5-6 with a 5.69 ERA over his final 13 starts after going 14-2 with a 2.12 ERA in his first 19 outings. He finished strong, going 2-1 with a 2.04 ERA in his final three outings, a stretch that following his poor effort in Oakland.

Boone also announced that the Yankees will carry 10 pitchers for their Wild Card game, including three other starters – Happ, Tanaka and Lance Lynn.

Kyle Higashioka will make the Wild Card Game roster as a third cacher, Boone said.