Twins to face Yankees' James Paxton in Game 1 of ALDS
NEW YORK —James Paxton will start the New York Yankees’ AL Division Series opener against the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Paxton (15-6, 3.82), a 30-year-old left-hander in his first season with the Yankees, will be followed by Masahiro Tanaka (11-9, 4.45) for Game 2 on Saturday and Luis Severino (1-1, 1.50) for Game 3 at Minnesota on Monday.
“I’ve been talking to teammates, asking them what it’s been like pitching in the postseason,” Paxton said
Paxton won a career-best 10 straight starts before leaving his final regular-season start after one inning last Friday because of a tight glute muscle in the left buttocks.
“It’s good. It’ll be a non-issue,” he said.
Manager Aaron Boone says 39-year-old left-hander CC Sabathia will not be included on the Division Series roster because of issues with his pitching shoulder. Sabathia, who is retiring after the postseason, made his first regular-season relief appearance last week, had a cortisone shot and did not respond well enough.
Boone anticipates Edwin Encarnación will be on the roster. Encarnación, who hasn't played since Sept. 12 because of a strained left oblique, hit in a pair of simulated games this week.
