The New York Yankees have turned heads just days before their American League Division Series begins.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed on Friday that Luis Gil will start Game 1 against the Toronto Blue Jays, even though the righthander was not on the Wild Card roster. He also allowed that further adjustments to the postseason roster remain possible.
Boone told reporters simply, “Just feel like he’s ready for this … we feel like Luis is ready to go.”
“Luis Gil is starting Game 1 for the Yankees.
Boone says there could be other roster changes for NY, ahead of Blue Jays series,” MLB insider Mitch Bannon later tweeted, quoting Boone directly.
Gil‘s selection is bold given the context: he missed much of the regular season with a high-grade lat strain and was not used in the Wild Card series.
Nevertheless, he closed the season with strong numbers and a memorable outing against Toronto, which likely helped his cause.
The opener will pit Gil, 27 years old, against veteran ace Kevin Gausman at Rogers Centre. Boone also confirmed that Max Fried will pitch Game 2, and indicated that lefty Carlos Rodón and rookie Cam Schlittler are slated for Games 3 and 4 in some order.
Gil’s 2025 season was limited but effective: he went 4-1 in 11 starts with a 3.32 ERA after returning from injury.
He logged 41 strikeouts across 57 innings. Earlier this year, on September 6, he threw six innings against Toronto, giving up just one run.
But his velocity has dipped. His average fastball in 2025 sat around 95.3 mph, down from 96.6 mph last season, and his batted-ball metrics have taken a hit.
Boone acknowledged those concerns but emphasized that Gil has gotten results since his comeback, calling him “very capable.”
Gil himself was candid about the challenge of recovering from injury.
“It’s tough whenever you go through an injury … I feel very good right now where I’m at today. The important thing is that we’re here today, and we have a really good chance, playing in the postseason. I’ll give it everything I have.”
Boone leaves door open for roster tinkering
Even after naming his Game 1 starter, Boone did not signal that all decisions are final. The fact that Gil was omitted from the Wild Card roster suggests the Yankees are still fine-tuning their postseason depth.
Boone’s public acknowledgment that “there could be other roster changes” adds intrigue ahead of the Blue Jays series.
In choosing Gil over rookie Will Warren, who had been under consideration for a starting role, Boone appears to favor a more experienced hand for the high stakes ahead. Warren, meanwhile, will remain in the bullpen.
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