Key storylines as Yankees face elimination in Game 4
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Game 3 of the ALDS did not go the New York Yankees way. Now they find themselves facing elimination with plenty of questions surrounding them.

Dom Renna

Losing in Game 3 of a five-game series is not the end of the world. But, it was the way the New York Yankees lost that gives fans reasons for concern.

The bullpen was not as automatic as it had been throughout the first three playoff games. A lineup that had scored 17 runs the last three games just disappeared in Game 3. Backup catcher Austin Romine found himself pitching an inning. All of this results in the Yankees playing in their second elimination game this season.

How the team rebounds from a 16-1 loss will ultimately determine whether or not they live to see another day in 2018, creating plenty of storylines as Game 4 approaches.

What Can CC Sabathia Realistically Give You?

Some around the baseball world say that CC Sabathia is the perfect man to have the ball for the Yankees. Sabathia has plenty of experience in games like this and will be looking to give the Yankees just enough to get them to a Game 5.

The Yankees and Aaron Boone have been notorious for not going with Sabathia for too long, who quite frankly is hit or miss when he hits the mound. If he has his stuff working from the start, he will be fine. If he does not and is missing his spots…trouble in the Bronx.

CC’s last postseason start came in Game 7 of the 2017 ALCS where he only lasted 3.1 innings allowing an earned run in a 4-0 Yankee loss.

How Long Will Aaron Boone Stick With Sabathia?

This is probably the question that everyone who has invested time in this series is asking.

The feeling around the game is that Boone left Luis Severino in three batters too late. It blew up in the rookie manager’s face as the Yankees came out of the inning down 10-0 instead of stopping the bleeding.

What also should fall under this question is who will Boone go to when the time comes to make a move? He held back using Dellin Betances, David Robertson, Zach Britton, and Aroldis Chapman in Game 3. Those four should be the first to get the call should the Yankees find themselves in any kind of trouble Tuesday night.

Not Lance Lynn.

Can The Yankees Continue Thier Elimination Game Success?

Those are the numbers above for the Yankees in elimination games since 2017. They’ve played in two Wild Card games, overcame a 2-0 deficit in the 2017 ALDS, and fell short in ALCS a year ago.

Playing in these constant elimination games are like playing with fire, eventually, you will get burned. For the Yankees sake, they are hoping that won’t be a problem.


Yes, most of these storylines revolve around pitching. There are still questions about how the Yankees offense can rebound after being shut down by Nathan Eovaldi. Will Boone make any lineup changes like Alex Cora did prior to Game 3?

All of these questions will be answered tonight. Game time is scheduled for 8:00 PM EST and can be seen on TBS.

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Dominick is a graduate of Canisius College. He has covered the Rangers for the last seven seasons and the Yankees for the last four.