Yankees best choices for assembling a playoff pitching rotation

ALDS Game 2

It’s a bold statement, but Lance Lynn should start Game 2 of the Red Sox series; in Boston.

Lynn is a high ground-ball pitcher; allowing almost twice as many ground balls than fly balls this season for the former Twin. It’s extremely valuable to keep the ball on the ground in Fenway.

The Red Sox hit 24 points lower against ground-ball pitchers than their average in 2018.

No, Lynn isn’t pitching the best he ever has this season: 5.01 ERA with two strikeouts to every one walk. The guy isn’t throwing anything electric, but he’s good against the Red Sox.

Let me rephrase that. Lance Lynn is fantastic against the Red Sox. Not only has Lynn pitched twice this season against the Red Sox (11 IP) and given up just two earned runs, but Lynn’s BAA is actually better than his season average by .040.

Lynn has also pitched 12 innings in Boston in his career, with success, I might add. Lynn rarely gives up home runs — a strength of Boston’s this season.

Yes, Lynn is a shaky option being that his overall abilities are not too sharp. But circumstances, as they stand, I think he is the best man the Yankees have for the job.

Another reason to start Lynn is that he’s right-handed. Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and Steve Pearce all hit for a lower batting average with more ground balls, when facing right-handed pitchers — Betts especially, whose numbers are lower across the board against righties.

Coming back to New York after these two games with a rested Luis Severino would be crucial, especially if the Lynn plan were to fall through.