Yankees manager Aaron Boone still doesn't know who he wants to start the AL Wild Card Game next Wednesday against the Athletics. But he seems pretty sure that it will be a starter and not reliever to begin the game.
Boone will likely choose between J.A. Happ, Masahiro Tanaka and Luis Severino to get the ball first despite his deep bullpen. He ran a bullpen game in Monday's win over the Rays, where Jonathan Holder began the game that saw seven more relievers to close things out.
"I don't think we can do something like we did the other day when we started a reliever," Boone told The Post's George A. King III. "I see one of our three starters starting that game. You could see a situation where one of our starters is pitching real well and comes out a little early because we'd be lined up and rested with our guys ready to go. We could be a little aggressive in certain situations. But it wouldn't be an opening-type situation."
Though Boone seems like he made his mind up, GM Brian Cashman told SNY's Andy Martino that he would consider an "opener" for the game.
"We are open to all options at this point since we haven't concluded that process," he said. "Still trying to win home field."
Securing home field advantage for the game is something both Cashman and Boone agree on at the moment. No decision will be made on the starter strategy until that happens.
"A lot of people ask me that. ...and honestly, I have no idea," Boone said. "I think we have a good decision to make. Hopefully we want to play that game and at home and we want to make sure that happens. "Then, hopefully we're in a position when we get to the weekend in Boston where we can map it out and adjust guys' workloads. As of now, we haven't made a decision."
The Yankees' magic number to secure home field is still at two after a loss to the Rays on Wednesday night.