Yankees need to be cautious of workload for bullpen in Postseason

The Yankees bullpen has been the best part of their game all season long, and early into October, it has remained strong. But can the Yankees rely on it all Postseason?

The decision of who the Yankees should start in the American League wild-card game was a tough one. Should Joe Girardi go with Luis Severino, who has been the ace all season long? Or maybe go with Sonny Gray, who has experience in the Postseason as a member of the Athletics?

The possibility of starting Chad Green and working a bullpen only game had even been tossed around, but ultimately Girardi went with his young stud in Severino, with the start.

Starting Severino wasn’t a bad play by Girardi on paper. Sevvy had a solid regular season and proved that he was not only the best pitcher on the Yankees, but one of the best starting pitchers in the American League.

As we all know, Severino did not fare well in his start, recording only one out and allowing three runs in the top of the first inning.

Green and the rest of the bullpen were tasked with recording 26 outs in order for the Yankees to advance to the ALDS. They allowed just five hits and one run while recording 13 strikeouts. Green, along with David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Aroldis Chapman saved the season, and picked up their young starter.

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Game 1 of the ALDS had hoped to be better for the Yankees’ starters. But Gray only made it to the fourth inning before the game was turned over to the bullpen once again. This time, Adam Warren, Jaime Garcia and Dellin Betances were given the task of shutting down a very explosive Indians’ lineup — they did just that. They went 4.2 innings, allowing one run and two hit while striking out seven.

Postseason baseball is a totally different animal than a regular season game. Starting pitchers are on much shorter leashes, and relievers are asked to go into unfamiliar territory.

Other teams have tried to rely on their bullpen, specifically the Indians in 2016. They put Andrew Miller, Cody Allen and Brian Shaw in whenever they needed outs, and worked them a ton. Yes, it led them to the World Series, but ‘pen simply couldn’t get the job done once they were there.

Bottom line, the Yankees need more production from their starting pitchers. Their starters have pitched to a 16.88 ERA, allowing seven hits, six runs, five walks and two strikeouts in just 4.2 innings.

The bullpen on the other hand? Over the 13.1 innings they’ve been tasked with, they’ve allowed just seven hits, recording 20 strikeouts and pitching to a 1.35 ERA.

If the Yankees want to make a serious World Series run, they’ll need to get more from their starters. Relying on the bullpen isn’t the worst thing in the world, but fatigue can come into play later on in October.

Next: The ALDS Game 1 nightmare

The bullpen has been lights out all of 2017, but having them pitch too much can be costly in their hopes of World Series Championship number 28.