Why Yankees’ Fans Should Pay Close Attention To The AL Wild Card Game

Sep 28, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) watches the game from the dug out during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

While the New York Yankees will be watching the postseason for the second consecutive season, there are still reasons for this team to be watching what happens this October. The first of what will be many reasons to come will occur tonight in Kansas City as the Oakland Athletics face the Kansas City Royals for the American League Wild Card (8:07 PM ET, TBS). The winner of this game will play the Angels on Thursday night in the ALDS. While the Bronx Bombers don’t necessarily care who wins the game, the focus should and will be on the two starting pitchers.

Jon Lester (Oakland) and James Shields (Kansas City) are both set to be free agents, along with Detroit Tigers’ ace Max Scherzer (Game 1 starter on Thursday vs. Baltimore). Even though it has been reported by George A.King III of the New York Post that the team won’t spend as much this winter, you have to think that the Yankees will be linked to one of the “big three” at some point during the winter due to the uncertainty of Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda giving the team full seasons in 2015. Before we discuss the fit for both of these pitchers, let’s breakdown the matchup, starting with Lester: