ARLINGTON, Texas — And now a tight glute.
The Yankees were placing health and rest over home-field advantage.
Yankees ace James Paxton came up with a tight left glute after one inning Friday night and was removed from the game in the Yankees’ 14-7 win over the rancid Rangers at Globe Life Park.
Both Aaron Boone and Paxton downplayed the situation and said the move was strictly precautionary. In a season where so many injuries have hit the Yankees, no injury, no matter how small, can be taken for granted.
Boone made the right move to get Paxton out of the game after 21 pitches. The Yankees are entering the postseason where there is no room for error.
The good news for the Yankees is that Luis Severino, who starts Saturday night, gives them a strong 1-2 power punch from the left and right side. If Paxton does have any lingering glute issues, they could always turn to Severino in Game 1.
“I don’t think it is going to be anything serious,’’ the straight-shooting Paxton insisted.
With Houston’s 4-0 win over the Angels, the Astros own the best record and home-field advantage for the ALCS, if the Yankees get there.
October is a crapshoot, but it is always best to be at home as much as possible, especially when your home owns a short porch like Yankee Stadium. At least the Yankees will have the home-field advantage for the ALDS.
After that, all bets are off, and they could have the same problem in Houston like they did in 2017.
In 2018, the Red Sox had the home-field advantage in the ALDS and did not even need Game 5 to knock the Yankees out.
Boone said everything is on the table for the postseason and that is one of the reasons general manager Brian Cashman made the trip along with his lieutenants.
The Yankees still are formulating a game plan, now that plan is trickier because the Astros have home-field advantage, but a big part of that plan depends on the Yankees’ lineup wearing out opposing pitching staffs.
Make no mistake, that is the essence of who the Yankees are and those bats must come alive against the best pitching in the AL. Giancarlo Stanton, with three hits including a home run Friday night, offered much hope for that offense.
The message this weekend against the Rangers is this, Boone said: “Everything matters.’’
He added, “It’s important for guys to stay in a good rhythm to build a little momentum going into the off days. Hopefully some guys get swinging the bat well, the pitchers get the necessary work in that they need and hopefully we can go out and win some games.’’
One could add that mental mindset of doing whatever it takes to win the close games.
The bats did not show up against the Rays’ good pitching earlier this week. Going back to the playoff loss to the Red Sox last year, the Yankees only scored four runs the final two games.
Edwin Encarnacion (oblique) is not yet right. He has missed 12 games and means so much to this lineup.
As for the home-field advantage not being in their favor in the ALCS, Boone said, “That is so far down the road that we are trying to kind of put our best foot forward.’’
That means health matters most.
And yes the Yankees have to get past the ALDS and Twins before they can even think of the ALCS, but the Astros are energized by their slogan this year: “Take it back.’’
They have Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole at the top of their rotation. They can give the team a physical and mental boost.
Somehow, Paxton and Severino must match those two. That is the challenge.
And what did Boone learn from the knockout punch the Red Sox delivered last October?
“Hopefully the growth that I’ve had personally puts us in a better position going into next Friday,’’ he said.
There is no doubt that this Yankees team is stronger than last year’s team. And Paxton gives them a leg up over last year’s rotation as long as his left glute tightness does not become anything serious.
Consider them glute to go.
