The New York Yankees are on the brink of elimination, and manager Aaron Boone knows the team has a tough task on hand.
The Yankees were blown out in Games 1 and 2 in Toronto, and now in Game 3, the Blue Jays will be giving the ball to Shane Bieber. Bieber is a tough out, and Boone had a lot of praise for the former Cy Young Award winner ahead of Game 3.
“He looks like Bieber to me,” Boone said on Oct. 6. “I know it was obviously a long road back for him. Good pickup by the Blue Jays being able to get him and being able to insert him into their rotation. He’ll be a challenge for us.”
Toronto made a bold move to acquire Bieber at the trade deadline, despite him recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Although Boone knows Bieber is a tough out, he says the Yankees‘ lineup will be focused on attacking him and him only.
“Well, yeah, Shane Bieber, that is the thought. We’re going up against Shane Bieber,” Boone said. “That’s how I’m going to formulate the lineup. Shane’s been a reverse this year, been kind of both throughout his career, more of a neutral guy. Then you also have some consideration to what they have in the bullpen, how you space things out a little bit. It starts with the opposing starter.”
Since returning from injury, Bieber is 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA in 7 starts.
Bieber Eager to Pitch At Yankee Stadium in Playoffs Again
Toronto opted to start Trey Yesavage in Game 2 at home to allow the veteran in Bieber to pitch on the road.
With the Yankees on the brink of elimination, Bieber is expecting a rowdy crowd, but is excited to pitch at Yankee Stadium again.
“I’m anticipating a ton of energy, both positive and negative,” Bieber said. “For me, thankfully, I’ve done it before. But really for me, I put myself in the best position to succeed when I just embrace it. I’ve tried to learn how to do that, and it’s just an incredible opportunity. Like how many people get to say that they’ve done that?”
Bieber pitched in the Bronx in the playoffs in the 2022 ALDS. He went 5.2 innings, allowing 2 runs and striking out 7 in a win for Cleveland.
Yankees Focused on 1 Game at a Time
With New York being down 0-2 in the series, the Yankees know they have to take it one game at a time.
Boone says the team is just taking it one game at a time and is focused on winning Game 3.
“Obviously, it feels like the world’s caving in around you — you lose two games like that in their building, where it doesn’t go right,” Boone said. “But, all of a sudden, you go out there and win a ballgame on Tuesday, the needle can change.”
Yankees captain, Aaron Judge, meanwhile, says the team has been here before and has confidence they can win three straight games.
“We’ve got guys in here that have been to the World Series, been in some tough moments — backs against the wall all season long,” Judge said. “So we’ve just got to show up and do our thing.”
Game 3 is set for Oct. 7 at 8:08 p.m. ET.
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