Opposing Cam Schlittler on the mound for Game 4 on Wednesday: a parade of Blue Jays relievers.
As if that was not enough of a potential advantage for the Yankees — at least on paper — they forced the Blue Jays to use six of their 10 relievers on Tuesday while coming back from a five-run deficit to win a 9-6 thriller in Game 3 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium.
Hard-throwing righty Louis Varland, who gave up the bone-crushing, game-tying, three-run homer to Aaron Judge on Tuesday night, will start Game 4 as an opener before the Blue Jays piece the rest together.
“You’re trying to take chances to win today, and it didn’t work out,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “Everyone is available [Wednesday].”
The Blue Jays started Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber for the first three games of the series, but opted to carry an extra reliever on their roster over a fourth starter, which would have been either Max Scherzer or Chris Bassitt.
But the Yankees were able to knock Bieber out of the game after just 2 ²/₃ innings on Tuesday, forcing the majority of the Blue Jays bullpen into the game.
That came after the Blue Jays used seven different relievers following Yesavage’s dominant Game 2 start on Sunday before an off-day Monday.
“I get how it looks with the bullpen game [Wednesday] and all that kind of stuff,” Schneider said of his early hook of Bieber. “Man, these guys are going to be ready to go.”
For the second straight game, Aaron Boone considered starting Paul Goldschmidt over Ben Rice at first base Tuesday night, only to stick with the young slugger over the veteran.
Once again, it was a testament to the belief the Yankees have in Rice to change the game in one swing.
“It’s what I believe the threat of Benny is,” Boone said before Rice went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.
Rice’s sacrifice fly, which extended the Yankees lead to 9-6 in the bottom of the sixth, came off lefty reliever Brendon Little. Goldschmidt then replaced him at first base in the top of the seventh.
Boone indicated that he would be more inclined to add a fourth right-handed hitter to the Yankees lineup for Game 4, wanting better balance against the bullpen game, which could mean starting Goldschmidt at first or Amed Rosario (who doubled and scored in the fifth inning after popping out as a pinch hitter in the third inning) at third.
Boone and a trainer came out to check on José Caballero in the eighth inning after the utility man took a big swing and aggravated a finger injury he has been dealing with the past few months.
But he remained in the game to hit a single.
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