THE YANKEES DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN....BUT IT PROBABLY WILL

Photo: Newsday

I hate thinking about the Wild Card, but given how we have overachieved this season I should be happy with that possibility. I just don't like to settle. I do like playoff baseball though. Assuming the Yankees get into the postseason and win a Wild Card game the Yankees are likely to match up with a VERY dangerous opponent...

The Cleveland Indians are absolutely dominating baseball right now. A 21 game winning streak is abso-freaking-lutely nuts! These guys are on a mission and they aren't taking any prisoners. I really don't want to be in their path but right now we are likely going to be. The Indians want the World Series ring that the didn't get last ear. The Yankees are going to really have to optimize their strengths here to neutralize this team.

I like optimism and Andrew Marchand thinks the Yankees have a chance against the Indians if they follow their current formula. It's going to be hard though. Last year I really think the World Series could've ended differently if Danny Salazar or Carlos Carrasco would've been healthy and pitched. They had a disadvantage without those guys, and now they are back. Oh and of course the Indians have the guy I still miss a lot Andrew Miller and he is ready to pitch for that ring again.....or is he?

Photo: CBS Sports

The Indians have a stronger rotation this year with Corey Kluber leading the way and stealing mentions of a possible Cy Young award over Chris Sale. Add Miller back into the equation and these guys look scarier. That is assuming Miller is going to stay healthy. The lefty has had two stints on the disabled list this ear due to tendinitis in his right knee. The Indians are supposedly ready to activate him on Thursday and will use him for a quick inning of work if needed and then rest him again for a few days after to see how he feels afterward. If Miller isn't 100% if and when the Yankees and Indians go head-to-head it could give the Yankees the upper hand.

The Indians have a stronger rotation, but the Yankees have a bullpen of superstar studs. If we assume the Yankees starter is Luis Severino and he lasts five or six strong innings and the offense actually shows up and HITS then Tommy Kahnle and company can finish the job.

Let's face it, if  Chad Green, David Robertson, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman can come in and shut the door.....I hope. This isn't going to be easy at all and if it comes down to the Yankees and Indians I may create a trench in my living room from pacing back and forth nervously. 

Nothing is impossible and of all the teams who have wild card potential and could also be in our shoes they just don't have our bullpen. We may be the underdog, but we have a damn good bullpen and the best chance to beat the Indians. I'd like to have those bragging rights.



--Jeana Bellezza

BYB Managing Editor 
Follow me on Twitter: @NYPrincessJ