Summer camp is over and it’s time…finally…for the 2020 MLB season to kick off. The Yankees will be facing the Washington Nationals in the first game of the season on Thursday at 7:08 p.m., so it’s time for our final roster prediction.

It will begin with 30 men in each clubhouse until the roster is slashed to 28 players two weeks later. Then, two weeks after that, 26 men will only be allowed. All rosters need to be handed in by noon Thursday.

The Yankees have looked great throughout this camp, and some top prospects have even shined in their appearances during intrasquad and exhibition games. So manager Aaron Boone is likely going through some tough decisions as we speak, creating the perfect roster to begin this 60-game sprint.

For one final time, let’s predict the 30-man roster ahead of Opening Day (gosh, it feels good to say that), starting with the position players…

Lineup (in batting order)

DJ LeMahieu, 2B
Aaron Judge, RF
Gleyber Torres, SS
Giancarlo Stanton, DH
Luke Voit, 1B
Gary Sanchez, C
Aaron Hicks, CF
Gio Urshela, 3B
Brett Gardner, LF

Everyone is healthy, and that’s all the Yankees could’ve asked for when summer camp was over. Judge had himself a little scare with some neck pain, but he’s been mashing the ball out of games. He looks more than ready to go, and he’s set to fulfill that “ready for Opening Day” promise.

And this is how the lineup should shake out on Opening Day, albeit some changes that Boone might have in mind. Overall, this should be who’s at each position on most nights. Powerhouse lineup.

Starting Rotation

Gerrit Cole, RHP
James Paxton, LHP
Masahiro Tanaka, RHP
J.A. Happ, LHP
Jordan Montgomery, LHP

Tanaka won’t be making his first start of the season, though, as he continues to work his way back from a mild concussion. So the Yankees will likely use an opener (Chad Green) or a spot starter (Michael King?).

Other than that, the Yanks’ starters look ready to go. Cole has been solid as expected, and Paxton seems very healthy since his back surgery. Happ and Montgomery have pitched well, too, in their appearances.

Bullpen

Aroldis Chapman, LHP
Zack Britton, LHP
Adam Ottavino, RHP
Chad Green, RHP
Tommy Kahnle, RHP
Jonathan Holder, RHP
Luis Cessa, RHP
Michael King, RHP
David Hale, RHP
Luis Avilan, LHP

One of the biggest battles in summer camp was that of King and Clarke Schmidt, and Boone announced on Tuesday that King would be making the 30-man roster. The Yankees loved what they saw from Schmidt, naming him the most outstanding rookie in spring training this year, but King seemed to have the edge after his solid start against the Mets in the exhibition game.

As mentioned before, King actually might fill in for Tanaka in that first start, but we shall see. Also, Avilan was selected to the 40-man roster and signed to a major league deal along with Hale. Moves like that figure to make these two bullpen pieces a lock for the roster.

Finally, Chapman still remains away from the team after a positive coronavirus test. Cessa has looked great after remaining in self-isolation after his own.

Bench

Miguel Andujar, UTIL
Mike Ford, 1B
Clint Frazier, OF
Mike Tauchman, OF
Tyler Wade, UTIL
Kyle Higashioka, C

OK, this is the group that I’m not entirely sure of because everyone performed very well in summer camp. Thairo Estrada did great in his appearances, and he figured to be battling with Wade. However, Wade was on the Yankees’ “A team” in most intrasquad games, so he figures to make the team.

Also, Chris Iannetta was signed to a major league deal and added to the 40-man roster. Does that mean two catchers will be carried on the bench? Higashioka should be on the roster, but some teams were thinking about carrying three catchers to start anyway. If that’s the case, someone’s roster spot would be taken.

Could it be one of Frazier or Tauchman? Who knows, but this bench might be the hardest to figure out for Boone because of that patented Yankee depth. It’s a good problem to have.

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