Why Luis Severino and Michael King could be Yankees’ most important relievers in postseason

Maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves here, but with their magic number down to three with five games to go, the Yankees are probably thinking about their postseason rotation.

But one glaring issue, as has been the case all season, is how long their starters can go -- we've seen what an exhausted Yankees bullpen looks like, so it's imperative that the bullpen is rested, especially in October.

After the workhorse in Gerrit Cole in the Wild Card game, it's going to be Jordan Montgomery and Nestor Cortes Jr. in Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS -- if they get there. But those two have barely averaged five innings per start in the regular season. It's hard to imagine their leashes being any longer -- let alone the same length -- in the postseason.

That's where Luis Severino and Michael King come in.

Both pitchers are natural starters who are working out of the bullpen, but they both have been awesome in their new role.

King has allowed just two earned runs in his last seven outings -- all out of the bullpen --spanning 17.1 innings (1.04 ERA). In 14 relief appearances on the season, he has a 1.70 ERA (seven earned runs/37.0 innings). That's also an average of 2.2 innings per relief appearance - he has given more than quality length when it's been needed.

Severino isn't, and won't be, built up to join the rotation this year, but he has allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out seven in outings of 2.0, 2.0, and 1.0 innings since his return last week. And if the Yankees clinch a postseason spot earlier rather than later, the Yanks could take advantage and see what he has in a third inning of work.

The Yankees foreshadowed what a Cortes/Montgomery postseason start could look like in Tuesday's win against the Toronto Blue Jays. Jameson Taillon reaggravated his ankle injury, and King had to enter the game in the third inning. He then tossed 2.2 innings of one-run ball against a dangerous Blue Jays lineup, and the Yankees were able to hand it off to the surprisingly awesome Clay Holmes and a recently reborn Chad Green. Giancarlo Stanton added a three-run home run, and Severino got a scoreless inning in. 

While Taillon's outing was shortened, high-leverage relievers were used when they are supposed to be used.

In Montgomery's lone postseason start last year -- against Tampa Bay, who the Yankees would most likely face in the ALDS -- he threw four innings. The Yankees took him out when he was about to face the lineup for a third time, something he had struggled with. When Cortes faces a lineup a third time this season, opponents slash .298/.340/.681 (!!). We should not expect them to see anything more than five innings in any start this postseason. If they do, it's safe to assume they are probably dealing.

It's no guarantee that Corey Kluber will give any type of distance, either, but King or Severino would most likely be available after a day's rest, and could again be the first man in relief.

The Yankees have a decision to make on their rotation, and it's scary to think about how they may not get length from anyone aside from Cole.

But if Severino and King can give a couple of quality innings each as the first guys out of the pen and hand it off to the Yankees' high-leverage relievers to secure the win, that's a recipe for success, and the Yankees won't have to worry about length from their starters.