Yankees Rookie Will Warren Opens Up About His Postseason Role

Rookie pitcher Will Warren is willing to do whatever the Yankees need to make a deep run in October. That includes pitching wherever and whenever his team wants.

Warren went five innings as a starter in Friday’s 8-4 win over the Orioles, allowing four runs on six hits — including home runs by Tyler O’Neill and Jordan Westburg — while striking out seven.

While the Yankees have yet to publicly determine Warren’s postseason role, the 26-year-old acknowledged he’s open to anything.

“Ultimately, I just want to win,” Warren said, via the New York Post. “I’m willing to do whatever, however that looks. We’ll take it and run with it.”

Warren a Steady Presence for Yankees

Warren has been a steady rotation piece, posting a 4.44 ERA with 171 strikeouts across 162.1 innings. The right-hander became only the third Yankees rookie to make at least 33 starts in a season.

His stability alongside veteran southpaws Max Fried (19-5, 2.86 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (18-9, 3:05 ERA) proved crucial during a season in which Gerrit Cole did not pitch because of Tommy John surgery.

In five September starts, Warren posted a 5.13 ERA with 22 strikeouts and six homers allowed in 26.1 innings. But he was far more effective the previous month when he had a 2.84 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 25.1 innings.

“As starters, just being able to post every five days, come out there and throw, eat innings and go as deep as you can in a game and give (our team) a chance to win … I think I’m most proud of that,” Warren said, via YES Network.

Yankees Lining Up Playoff Rotation

Warren is likely destined for the bullpen in the playoffs, where his stuff may play up in short, one-inning stints.

Fellow rookie Cam Schlitter (3-3, 3.27 ERA) will make his final regular-season start Saturday against the Orioles, potentially lining him up to be the team’s No. 3 playoff starter behind Fried and Rodon.

When that will be remains uncertain. The Yankees and Blue Jays are tied atop the AL East at 92-68 with two games left, though Toronto holds a slight edge because of the tiebreaker.

Should the Yankees fall short of defending their division title, they’ll need to play in a best-of-three Wild Card Series next week.

The AL East winner will get a first-round bye.

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