Brian Cashman understands that World Series titles are expected from the New York Yankees, not just wished for.
The team hasn’t reached the Fall Classic since they won their 27th championship in 2009, marking the longest gap for the franchise since the period between 1978 and 1996.
“We have a great shot but we only have a great shot if we play our best baseball,” the general manager said Thursday before the AL Division Series against Kansas City.
“I know that we have the capabilities, but at the same time I caution that we’ve had capabilities many times before and you have to match those capabilities with, obviously, great defense, great baserunning, tremendous offensive at-bats against extremely tough pitching and, obviously, the most important aspect is pitching to the best of your abilities.”
After missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016, the Yankees bounced back after acquiring Juan Soto from San Diego in December. They led the AL in runs with 815 after finishing 25th in 2023 and were first in the majors with 237 home runs.
“I do honestly believe that anybody that’s currently in the tournament has a legitimate chance to raise that trophy,” Cashman said. “I think we have the pieces that are here and we have the will to make it happen, and now we’ve just got to go up against an opponent that’s very worthy.”
Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole (8-5) will start Saturday night’s opener for New York after recovering from elbow nerve irritation and swelling that kept him out from spring training until June 19.
Michael Wacha (13-8) will pitch for the Royals. He has held Yankees star Aaron Judge to just 1 hit in 18 at-bats with three walks and no home runs in his career.
“I’m chalking this up to small sample and I’ll take Aaron Judge against just about anyone on any day,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “but we know Wacha is a tough customer. He’s always pitched us tough and we know we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
New York faced Kansas City in the AL Championship Series in 1977 and 1978, winning both times on their way to World Series titles. However, the Royals swept the Yankees in 1980, which led George Steinbrenner to fire manager Dick Howser.
The next year, Howser became the Royals’ manager and guided Kansas City to its first World Series title in 1985.
In June, New York won three out of four games against Kansas City but lost the last game due to Maikel Garcia’s two-run double against Clay Holmes with two outs in the ninth inning. Last month, the Yankees took two of three games in the Bronx, losing the middle game when Seth Lugo and two relievers combined for a three-hit shutout for the Royals.
Kansas City swept Baltimore in a two-game Wild Card Series, while the Yankees won the AL East, earning a first-round bye and a five-day break.
The Royals are led by Bobby Witt Jr., who is likely to finish second to Aaron Judge in AL MVP voting, nine-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez, and a pitching rotation that includes Wacha, Lugo, and Game 2 starter Cole Ragans.
Relief pitcher Lucas Erceg was traded from Oakland on July 30 and has done well for the Royals, saving 11 out of 13 chances while striking out 31 and walking three in 25 innings. His fastball averages 98.6 mph.
“From early in the season ‘til now, their bullpen has improved,” Boone said. “They’ve had a couple guys emerge down there and then obviously bringing in Erceg to anchor them has taken their bullpen to another level.”
Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is still uncertain for the Division Series after fracturing the fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Saturday.
“He’s full-bore treatment mode right now,” Cashman said. “A very tight window of healing to take place. … A lot less pain than you would expect and more strength to the squeeze than you would expect given what he’s gone through, but he has not been doing baseball activity as of yet.”
Ben Rice and Oswaldo Cabrera are the main alternatives at first base.
DJ LeMahieu, who also plays first base, has been out since September 3 due to a right hip impingement.
“He’s started to do things,” Cashman said. “The time frame for him is a little bit difficult.”
