The New York Yankees have revealed their official roster for the Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, and one of the most notable absences is pitcher Luis Gil
Despite having been activated recently after a long recovery, the Dominican will not be available for this phase of the postseason, which has generated debate among fans and analysts.
An unexpected decision by Aaron Boone
Manager Aaron Boone surprised by leaving out Gil, who was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2024 and had shown signs of recovery after a back injury. Instead, the team included Will Warren, a young arm who has generated excitement for his potential, and Paul Blackburn, whose experience could be key in the bullpen.
The pitching roster for the series
The Yankees will rely on a rotation led by Max Fried, Carlos Rodon and Cam Schlittler, with David Bednar as the closer. Other names include Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Tim Hill, Mark Leiter Jr., Luke Weaver and Devin Williams. The depth of the bullpen seems to have been prioritized over the return of Gil.
Gil, out as a precaution
Although no new injury has been reported, it appears that the decision to leave Gil out is due to a physical management strategy. The pitcher was out for much of the season with a high-grade lat strain, and although he returned in September, the coaching staff would have opted not to risk him in a short, high-intensity series.
Reactions among fans
The exclusion of Gil has generated diverse opinions. Some believe that his presence would have strengthened the rotation, while others understand that his health should be the priority. On social media, many fans of the team expressed surprise, especially after seeing Gil active on the regular roster in recent weeks.
Yankees ready for October classic
Game 1 of the series against the Red Sox was played at Yankee Stadium, and the New York team arrived with players such as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in top form. However, the Boston Red Sox won by a score of 3-1, thanks to a dominant performance by Garrett Crochet, who struck out 11 batters, and timely hitting by Masataka Yoshida and Alex Bregman. The Yankees’ bullpen failed to hold the early lead and now the team is forced to win the second game to stay alive in the postseason.
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