Yankees to Use Chad Green as an Opener for Sunday's Clash With the Rays
By Karl Rasmussen
The Tampa Bay Rays are known for using openers out of the bullpen to start games. But how will they react when that same tactic is used against them?
Aaron Boone has revealed the Yankees' plans to use Chad Green as an opener for Sunday's game.
Chad Green will start for the #Yankees tomorrow. Guessing he’ll open, then they’ll bullpen the rest of the game.
— Max Wildstein (@MaxWildstein) May 18, 2019
After Green, the Yankees will likely lean on their other bullpen arms to pitch them through the game. This tactic has become increasingly popular since the Rays started using it in 2018.
Green will pitch the first inning, and possibly the second depending on how it goes, before being relieved in favor of another bullpen arm.
Chad Green will be the Yankees’ starter in a bullpen game Sunday.
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) May 18, 2019
With the amount of injuries to Yankee pitchers, it's important to limit the amount of innings the healthy ones are throwing, a way of preventing further injury to key players. After the latest injury scare, this time involving Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees will look to their bullpen to get them through the next nine frames.