The regular season is almost over but it looks like the New York Yankees will be playing in October. The Yankees have a magic number of three to secure a Wild Card spot, so a good showing this weekend will get the job done and likely bring the Wild Card game to Yankee Stadium once again. Assuming the Yankees don't need Gerrit Cole to pitch on Sunday to secure their postseason fate, he will be on the bump on Tuesday night to try and extend the team's season into the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, but what could the rest of the 26-man roster look like? Let's take a look.
Catchers (2)
Gary Sanchez, Kyle Higashioka
The Yankees will carry their usual catchers into the Wild Card matchup. Higashioka would likely draw the start as Cole's personal catcher, leaving Sanchez as a powerful pinch-hitting threat off the bench for that game.
Infielders (8)
D.J. LeMahieu, Rougned Odor, Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres, Gio Urshela, Andrew Velasquez, Luke Voit, Tyler Wade
This is pretty much the Yankees' entire complement of infielders with the addition of Andrew Velasquez, who can be a defensive option off the bench. Since this is a one-game situation, having Velasquez on here as a defender frees up the Yankees to use a guy like Tyler Wade as a pinch-runner at the expense of a starting pitcher who won't be available to pitch today anyway.
Outfielders (3)
Joey Gallo, Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge
No surprises here. Gallo's health is worth monitoring after getting hit on the elbow with a pitch on Wednesday that left him unable to hit. If Gallo can't go as a starter in this game it could force the Yankees to play Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield while Luke Voit serves as the designated hitter.
Designated Hitter (1)
Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton will be in the Yankees' lineup regardless based on his excellent season, but where he plays will depend on the health of Gallo.
Starting Pitchers (3)
Gerrit Cole, Nestor Cortes, Corey Kluber
Jameson Taillon's injury makes him an easy candidate to leave off the roster since he may be limited if he is even able to pitch on Sunday in his scheduled turn. Cole will start if he doesn't have to pitch in Game 162 to get the Yankees in while Cortes and Kluber will be rested enough to give the Yankees some innings in a worst-case scenario. Jordan Montgomery isn't here because he is scheduled to pitch on Saturday, leaving him only two days of rest, but he would be added at the expense of a guy like Velasquez to pitch Game 1 of the Division Series.
Relief Pitchers (9)
Aroldis Chapman, Jonathan Loaisiga, Chad Green, Luis Severino, Clay Holmes, Domingo German, Michael King, Lucas Luetge, Wandy Peralta
The Yankees will stack their bullpen with arms but the first five are the likeliest to pitch in the Wild Card game. Chapman will likely be the closer, putting him in a pressure spot that will make Yankees' fans extremely nervous.