#Yankees’ ALDS rotation after Gerrit Cole remains unclear

Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 of the ALDS on Monday night at San Diego’s Petco Park against the Rays.

Beyond that, Yankees manager Aaron Boone is still working on who will follow the staff ace in the remaining games in a best-of-five ALDS that has no day off built in.

“Other than Cole in Game 1, we haven’t made a decision,’’ Boone said on a Zoom call Saturday from Petco Park, where the Yankees worked out.

Asked if the Yankees could employ an opener in Game 2, the manager said he was doubtful about that and indicated he was trying to arrange the order of the starters behind Cole.

“Kind of decide when we want to go with [Masahiro Tanaka], Deivi [Garcia], [J.A.] Happ and [Jordan Montgomery],’’ Boone said. “It’s kind of setting it up to see how we want to roll it out.’’

Cole and Tanaka pitched in the two AL wild-card series victories, but Boone hasn’t committed to using the pair in that order against the Rays.

It’s possible the Yankees would want to avoid using the 21-year-old Garcia in a deciding Game 5 and could start him Tuesday in Game 2 or Wednesday in Game 3.

Whatever way Boone decides to go, his rotation will be well rested. Cole will be working on five days’ rest on Monday. If Tanaka starts in Game 2, he will also have had five days’ rest. Garcia’s last outing was Sept. 26. Happ hasn’t pitched since Sept. 25 and Montgomery’s previous outing was Sept. 24.

If you are thinking Boone could bring Cole back on three days’ rest for Game 5 on Friday, that isn’t likely since Cole has never pitched on short rest in his career.

He is 30-18 with 3.71 ERA in 67 starts on five days of rest. On regular rest (four days) Cole is 57-27 with a 2.74 ERA in 106 starts and with six-plus days of rest he is 14-10 with a 3.75 ERA in 31 starts.

---

Rays manager Kevin Cash announced lefty Blake Snell will start Game 1 and right-handers Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton will get the ball in Games 2 and 3.

Using Snell could lead to Boone starting the right-handed hitting Clint Frazier instead of the lefty swinging Brett Gardner, who went 3-for-8 with a homer and three RBIs in two AL wild-card series victories over the Indians, who started right-handers.

“Felt it was important to do what we could to keep Blake and Tyler on somewhat of a normal routine,’’ Cash said. “With Charlie, I don’t think the extra rest going to be a negative. I think it is going to be a positive for him. We will see after three ballgames and go from there.’’

Cash hinted Snell and Glasnow could contribute in the later games if needed.

“Going with Blake and Tyler as the top two, you would like to think that we would have them somewhat available for those games, but we have to see how we get there first,’’ Cash said on a Zoom call from Petco Park. “Blake, I would think if we can manage the workload and do everything the right way, he should be able to bounce back and help us as needed for a fifth game.’’

Frazier was limited to a pinch-hitting appearance in Game 2 against the Indians and struck out. He hit .250 (8-for-32) against lefties with a .820 OPS. Frazier was better against right-handers, posting a .912 OPS and a .265 average. Gardner batted .211 (4-for-19) versus lefties with a .286 on base percentage compared to .229 (25-for-109) with a .370 on-base against right-handers.

---

The Yankees don’t have to submit an ALDS roster to MLB offices until 10 a.m. Pacific time Monday, so they are meeting daily to put together the 28 names who will be eligible to play against the Rays.

“We had a roster meeting [Friday night] where everyone, from the front office, analysts, scouts, coaches and staff we kind of hashed it out and make cases for this and that,’’ Boone said. “Lay everything out on the table and then we kind of have everyone stewing on it. We will have another meeting [Saturday or Sunday] to finalize and see which way we want to go.’’

With potentially five games in five days, pitching will be at a premium and could lead to the Yankees finding a bullpen spot for right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who could provide length.

Boone didn’t use Adam Ottavino in the two AL wild-card series games, but don’t expect the right-hander to be sidelined in the upcoming ALDS.

“I see a big role for [Ottavino] moving forward,’’ Boone said Saturday. “I am excited for him to get some big outs for us.’’

Considering Ottavino’s appearing in 10 more games (24-14) against right-handers than lefty swingers, that trend should continue. Righties batted .263 (15-for-57) with a .750 OPS and struck out 19 times. Lefties batted .294 (5-for-17) with a .811 OPS and fanned six times.