Yankees and Red Sox have similarly dominant but thin pitching staffs

The Yankees and Red Sox seem about to engage in a 162-day fight for supremacy of the AL East. But with three weeks until opening day, each still needs to add a starting pitcher.

The New York Yankees have put together what has the potential to be a high-powered offense, strong and deep. Manager Aaron Boone talked about that during the YES broadcast on Thursday, mentioning just how many great young hitters the Yankees have in their system.

Not long after, third-string backup first baseman Billy McKinney blasted a grand slam. Whatever the Yankees problems are this year—and there will be problems—offense is least likely to be among them.

Starting pitching, on the other hand, might be. That is not meant to denigrate the starting five, however.

RHP Luis Severino was third in the CY Young voting last year. And among all of his sterling 2017 numbers, perhaps his hits to innings pitched is his most impressive: 150/193. But if any want to argue that his ERA (2.98) or strikeouts-to-walks ratio (230/51) is more telling, we won’t let it come between us.

Yet he is only tied on his team for the title of Ace.

Two of a Kind

Masahiro Tanaka and fellow righty had the definition of an up and down season last year, routinely alternating between great starts and horrible ones.

On July 3rd, for instance, he went seven innings while surrendering five hits and only one run. But his very next start on July 9th, Tanaka gave up five runs and six hits in just 4.1 IP.

The two men reversed roles, however, when it counted most. Sevvy started four games during the Yankees joyous but wholly unexpected ride through the playoffs. But his postseason ERA of 5.63 could not have been what he or the Yankees wanted.

And that total includes his first postseason start, which lasted one-third of an inning; Sevvy walked off the mound with an 81.00 ERA that night.

Tanaka, meanwhile, became the Hiro the Yankees needed. He started three games, pitched 25 total innings, and left an ERA that can only be found under a microscope (1.44). That’s what an Ace does in the playoffs.

Backing them up is Sonny Gray, CC Sabathia, and Jordan Montgomery, giving the Yankees a nice blend of youth and experience.