Yankees: Kevin Cash might be out-smarting himself with Game 5 starter decision

The Yankees will face Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow in Game 5 of the ALDS.

Let’s start off by saying we’re by no means underestimating the Tampa Bay Rays and manager Kevin Cash. These guys are among the best in the business and are arguably more prepared than anybody given their financial limitations and creative solutions to various roadblocks.

But it is fair to wonder if Cash’s latest move is one that will come back to bite him, because it has the feels of Yankees-ALDS Game 2-type-of-outsmart-yourself situation.

The Rays announced after their Game 4 loss to the Yankees that they’d be starting Tyler Glasnow in Game 5. Why is that crazy? Glasnow started Game 2 on Tuesday night and threw 93 pitches across five innings. He’ll be on two days of rest, and having made just 51 starts in his 90-game career, this just doesn’t feel all that shrewd.

Then again, Glasnow surely won’t be pitching like an actual starter. He’ll more so be treated as an opener, likely going two innings before Cash turns to Blake Snell or the bullpen, which is fairly well rested after limited use on Thursday night.

Glasnow is pretty good against the Yankees, owning a 3.70 ERA across five starts, striking out 36 batters over 24.1 innings of work. The right-hander’s usual problem is being unable to last deep into games because his pitch count typically prevents him from doing so, but he has a lethal fastball and a nasty curveball.

In just about every other scenario he feels like the perfect opener, but on two days of rest after laboring through five difficult innings against the Yankees? It feels like a poor attempt at a mind-bender.

Perhaps it’s a different kind of mental warfare. Glasnow vs Gerrit Cole will be a battle of former Pittsburgh Pirates teammates who were traded away from that laughingstock of an organization. Who saw this story arc coming into focus?

What the Rays need is a fast start in Game 5, and that’ll be hard enough with Cole on the bump. Now, you’re making yourself more susceptible to giving up that fast start to the Yankees in case Glasnow’s two days of rest isn’t enough for him to possess his top-notch stuff for a couple of innings.

Could be genius. Could be try-hard. We’ll find out in a few hours.

Yankees: Jordan Montgomery saves season, NYY set up perfectly for Game 5

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