ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ Aaron Boone again said no decision on his starter for Wednesday's wild-card game has been made. But after the Yankees announced their rotation for the upcoming series at Fenway Park, it certainly seems to be coming into focus.
J.A. Happ will start Friday night, followed by Lance Lynn on Saturday and Luis Severino on Sunday. That would line up Happ to start the wild-card game against the A's on regular rest. Masahiro Tanaka and Severino also are considerations.
Before the Yankees' 12-1 win over the Rays in the series finale on Thursday, Boone said playing the wild-card game at Yankee Stadium remains the priority.
"We want to go out and win today," he said. "Hopefully we get to a point this weekend where we're really juggling it to set up how we want."
The A's were idle on Thursday. One Yankees win or one A's loss in the final three games of the season will give the Yankees the home game.
If the Yankees beat the A's, they will advance to the Division Series against the Red Sox, against whom Happ has good numbers, including this year. Boone said that doesn't factor into the wild-card decision.
"I would say we're going to pour everything into the wild-card game," he said. "Because, again, we feel like in a lot of ways, we're dealing with a few different really good options."
Boone said if the Yankees get to the ALDS, CC Sabathia likely will be his Game 4 starter and Lynn will be in the bullpen.
