Gerrit Cole and Yankees Beat Guardians in Game 1 of ALDS

Boone was also asked before the game about the team’s former closer, Aroldis Chapman, who was left off the division series roster after he failed to report to a mandatory workout last week. While Chapman struggled with injuries and inconsistency this season, and General Manager Brian Cashman had some cutting remarks about the former star reliever, Boone did not entirely rule out bringing him back if the Yankees were to advance past this round.

“We’ll see,” Boone said. “I mean, for now, he’s staying away and I know he’s throwing down in Miami. But for now, he’s away.”

On Tuesday, the Yankees’ relief core managed without Effross or Chapman, as Jonathan Loáisiga, Wandy Peralta and Clay Holmes — the latter two fresh off their own injuries — held the Guardians at bay after Cole’s departure.

The Yankees have said that they will mix and match with a bullpen that is missing several pivotal pieces, but Game 1 followed an ideal script.

Inside Pitch

While the Yankees are without a few key players, one injured contributor has been cleared to return with Matt Carpenter, a veteran infielder who had bolstered the lineup earlier this season, finally coming back from a foot injury. “He looks really good,” Boone said of Carpenter. “You know, he’s had a number of live at-bats, really, for the last week or 10 days now. And he looks really good, and feels really good, especially at the plate.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/11/sports/baseball/yankees-guardians-alds-game-1.html