Yankees Hint at Playoff Rotation With Pitching Schedule for Final Week of Regular Season

The Yankees have finally set their rotation for the final week of the year, as they prepare for their run through October.

The Bronx Bombers will roll with an opener on both Tuesday and Wednesday for their two-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, and for their final series against the Texas Rangers, they'll send James Paxton, Luis Severino and Masahiro Tanaka to the hill in order.

It's a solid rotation considering they're still vying for the best record in the American League. The three-headed monster of Paxton, Severino and Tanaka could very well be the difference-maker for home-field advantage.

Severino in particular will be a name to keep an eye on. After missing the majority of the season, he's made two starts for New York, going four shutout innings in the first, and five shutout innings in the second. He has truly looked every bit his old self, something that the Yankees desperately needed.

Once they finish that series against Texas, though, everyone will be setting their focus on the AL Divisional Series. Though their opponent has yet to be determined, each team in contention poses a very real threat to the Yankees' chances at winning their 28th World Series title. Now that we've seen the last series of meaningful contests features the trio of hurlers set up in this order, can we assume that Severino has the lead in the clubhouse over Tanaka on a playoff start? He just leapfrogged him, and goodness knows Tanaka can handle a road game; his brutal road stats this year were skewed by two meltdowns in Fenway Park and in London, both against Boston.

Somehow, the regular season is almost over. The Yankees just have this one last trip through the rotation, and then they can start shaping their starting rotation for the playoffs...officially.