Aaron Boone announced Monday that Clarke Schmidt will start Game 3 of the ALDS in Kansas City on Wednesday, meaning that Luis Gil is in the bullpen at least for this series based on the schedule.
Austin Wells, who will surely be behind the plate for that start, is on board with Boone’s decision.
“I think it's just how versatile he is. He's got some great breaking stuff and two great fastballs technically with the sinker and the cutter,” Wells said of Schmidt on Monday. “I think just how he's been able to handle this year starting off great, getting hurt, and then coming back and doing really well for us. I think he's primed for that spot. And he's so versatile, he's going to have a great start for us.”
Even if the Division Series goes five games, the schedule means the Yankees wouldn’t nee d a fifth starter until Game 4 of the ALCS on Oct.
18, so Gil could even be available in Game 1 or 2 of that series if needed (on what would be a “throw day” – and to Wells, the fact that the Royals could see him maybe twice, and the Guardians or Tigers once, before he even makes a start, isn’t a bad thing.
“I’m excited to see it,” Wells said of Gil as a reliever. “I think he’ll have more in the tank being the reliever; his fastball might be an extra couple miles an hour, and it's already a great fastball. I'm looking forward to that when the time comes, and we'll see what happens.”