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

1. Jonathan Loaisiga

The Yankees will need Loaisiga to pitch during tight spots in the playoffs.

Like we said, there will be no days off throughout the ALDS and ALCS, which means bullpens will be the most taxed than they’ve ever been. The Bombers are set with Aroldis Chapman, Zack Britton and Chad Green holding down innings 7-9, but what happens when one of them needs a rest? Someone else will need to slot in, and it’s hard to believe Aaron Boone is going to entrust Adam Ottavino or Jonathan Holder in key spots.

That’s where Jonathan Loaisiga comes in. He’s now pitched twice since coming off the injured list, and after taking care of business in garbage time against the Toronto Blue Jays, the right-hander came in on Friday to lift the Yankees to victory over the Boston Red Sox in extra innings.

It’s easy to see Loaisiga has overpowering stuff that profiles best for 1-2 innings of work and he fits the bill for late and high-leverage situations, which he’s proven he can handle a few times this year. Ottavino’s slider clearly isn’t the best it can be, and Holder’s best pitch is his changeup, which … won’t play late in games when you need to blow hitters away.

His nasty fastball averages nearly 97 MPH, and he stopped throwing his slider to better hone his curveball (84 MPH) and changeup (89 MPH). That’s what this bullpen is going to need against some of the best hitters in the league when the top relievers need rest.

Expect Loaisiga to pitch in big spots for Boone. If he can deliver, it’ll elevate the Yankees a lot more than you’d expect.

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