James Paxton will be the Yankees' Game 1 starter in their AL Division Series against the Twins on Friday night, manager Aaron Boone announced Thursday.
Boone said Masahiro Tanaka will start Game 2 on Saturday and Luis Severino will get the ball in Game 3 on Monday at Minnesota.
The Yankees manager said it was a difficult decision because those pitchers, as well as J.A. Happ, have been throwing the ball well recently.
"So frankly, I would have been comfortable going a lot of different ways with those guys, but feel like James is the guy to get us off on the right foot," Boone said.
Boone added that CC Sabathia will not be on the ALDS roster due to concerns about his left shoulder. The 39-year-old left-hander, who is retiring after this season, was moved into the bullpen in September in anticipation of the playoffs.
"Just wasn't bouncing back as well as we would've hoped in Texas," Boone said of Sabathia's shoudler. "He ended up getting a cortisone shot. Was able to go out and throw in a sim game Tuesday, and frankly threw the ball pretty well but just not quite where it needs to be to be in the role we're going to ask him to be in, where he's potentially getting up on the spot and then maybe having to get up later in the game."
Sabathia said it is difficult to accept he won't be pitching in the ALDS.
"Obviously being here and not being able to participate in playoffs, it's rough," he said. "But I don't want to put the team in jeopardy. I want the best opportunity for this team to win a championship. I feel like we have a good opportunity. I didn't want to be selfish and go out there hurt and put the team in a bad spot.
Boone said Sabathia will continue to work toward being ready for future playoff series.
"I do feel like the longer we go, there's a better chance that I can get back out there," Sabathia said. "Yeah, we're going to keep working, keep doing things in the training room to try to get back out there."
Boone said the rest of the postseason roster has "pretty much" been finalized but will wait until Friday morning to release it publicly.
