TORONTO — The Yankees settled on their Game 1 starter for the ALDS, picking Luis Gil over Will Warren.
“I feel like he’s ready for this and in line and trust him to handle the situation,” Aaron Boone said of Gil with the Yankees working out at the Rogers Centre on Friday. The manager added that he wants to keep Warren as a bullpen option for now.
Gil only made 11 starts this season, as a spring training lat injury delayed his season debut until Aug. 3. He posted strong surface numbers, recording a 3.32 ERA over 57 innings. However, he struggled with command, and he’s lacked the velocity and strikeout stuff that made him the American League Rookie of the Year in 2024.
“I think it’s a matter of experience and growing as a pitcher,” Gil said of his strikeout numbers being down. “You find ways to get guys out, especially if you’re getting good results, and you keep evolving. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to be there. It’s part of pitching.’
Gil added that he feels “100%.”
The right-hander faced the Blue Jays on Sept. 6, allowing one earned run despite walking four and fanning one over six innings.
Warren, meanwhile, surrendered eight earned runs over four innings to Toronto on July 2.
Boone also said Max Fried will start Game 2.
Bellinger Ready To Go
Cody Bellinger was seen limping a bit during the Yankees’ Game 3 Wild Card win over the Red Sox on Thursday, but he and Boone said the outfielder should be good to go for Game 1 of the ALDS.
Bellinger, who got some treatment, bruised his heel after scoring on Amed Rosario’s fourth-inning single.
