3 unexpected players who will be key to Yankees’ playoff success

2. JA Happ

At this rate, JA Happ could be the Yankees’ No. 3 starter in the playoffs.

Guys! GUYS! You’re never going to believe it but … JA Happ could, possibly, theoretically, start a do-or-die Game 3 of the opening Wild Card series. It all depends what manager Aaron Boone wants to do. Deivi Garcia has made a good case himself, but the Yankees may not want to throw a rookie into such a situation.

And that’s where Happ comes in. The left-hander owns a 3.25 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in eight starts this season. He’s the only Yankees starter to pitch into the eighth inning in 2020, and he’s done it twice. This is the 2018 half-season version of Happ the Yankees traded for, and he could be emerging as a key postseason piece.

Cole and Tanaka can’t pitch every day, and with no days off between the ALDS and ALCS, the need for quality outings will be paramount. That’s where Happ comes in, who has the veteran edge over Garcia, is the better lefty than Jordan Montgomery, and could maybe provide the presence in the rotation that James Paxton was supposed to. MAYBE.

He’s issued just five walks in his last six starts after his poor outings against the Orioles and Phillies to kick off 2020. His control right now is impeccable and he’s mixing up his pitches incredibly well. If he doesn’t get a start in the Wild Card series, we will no doubt see him for the rest of the way, whether that be the ALDS, ALCS and/or World Series.

And if he can pitch like he is at the moment, the Yankees will be very hard to beat.