I waited to start this until NY clinched a spot, we currently know that they will be either the #1, #2 or #4 seeds. A few of the roster decisions may be opponent-specific, but here's a shot as of now:
I was going to do different lineups for RHP and LHP but I am not sure NY will change the nine guys currently:
Torres 2B
Soto RF
Judge CF
Wells C
Stanton DH
Dominguez LF
Chisholm 3B
Rizzo 1B
Volpe SS
Bench: Berti, Grisham, Cabrera, Trevino
Since NY is currently carrying 28 position players, that leaves Verdugo out unless they go with 14 hitters/12 pitchers (certainly possible). They are also still carrying Duke Ellis on the 40 man as a potential pinch-runner, he has 62 SBs this year between AA/AAA/MLB and only 4 CS (5-0 in brief MLB time). Put Berti or Grisham in the OF as a defensive replacement for Dominguez if you need to, Verdugo can be head cheerleader.
Cole
Rodon
Gil/Schmidt/Cortes
If NY gets a bye, they only need three SPs in the first round. Cole and Rodon are locks and then I can see arguments for any of the other three, especially Nestor if it's one of many teams that can't hit lefties.
Bullpen:
two of Gil/Schmidt/Cortes
Hill
Holmes
Kahnle
Hamilton
Weaver
Which leaves 4 candidates from the current roster for the final 2 spots, 5 if Cousins is OK.
Mayza
Leiter Jr.
Beeter
Stroman
Leiter Jr. has been a mess and shouldn't make it. Mayza will probably make it as a second lefty (third if Nestor is in the bullpen), so maybe this week is about seeing if they think Beeter is an upgrade on Stroman, or maybe Cousins bumps both of them.
I was going to do different lineups for RHP and LHP but I am not sure NY will change the nine guys currently:
Torres 2B
Soto RF
Judge CF
Wells C
Stanton DH
Dominguez LF
Chisholm 3B
Rizzo 1B
Volpe SS
Bench: Berti, Grisham, Cabrera, Trevino
Since NY is currently carrying 28 position players, that leaves Verdugo out unless they go with 14 hitters/12 pitchers (certainly possible). They are also still carrying Duke Ellis on the 40 man as a potential pinch-runner, he has 62 SBs this year between AA/AAA/MLB and only 4 CS (5-0 in brief MLB time). Put Berti or Grisham in the OF as a defensive replacement for Dominguez if you need to, Verdugo can be head cheerleader.
Cole
Rodon
Gil/Schmidt/Cortes
If NY gets a bye, they only need three SPs in the first round. Cole and Rodon are locks and then I can see arguments for any of the other three, especially Nestor if it's one of many teams that can't hit lefties.
Bullpen:
two of Gil/Schmidt/Cortes
Hill
Holmes
Kahnle
Hamilton
Weaver
Which leaves 4 candidates from the current roster for the final 2 spots, 5 if Cousins is OK.
Mayza
Leiter Jr.
Beeter
Stroman
Leiter Jr. has been a mess and shouldn't make it. Mayza will probably make it as a second lefty (third if Nestor is in the bullpen), so maybe this week is about seeing if they think Beeter is an upgrade on Stroman, or maybe Cousins bumps both of them.
