The Yankees are entering the AL Division Series with the intention of starting Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes in four out of five games against the Guardians if the series goes far, The Post has learned.
Cole will be the Game 1 starter on Tuesday night. The teams will be off on Wednesday before Cortes gets his first-ever postseason start on Thursday in Game 2. There is one more day off before Luis Severino starts Game 3 on Saturday in Cleveland.
Due to the two off-days, Cole was able to return with normal rest in Game 4 if needed. If a decisive Game 5 in The Bronx is needed, Cortes would be reduced to a short rest in current plans.
The Yankees could try to start Jameson Taillon in Game 4 if they lead two games to one. They would then have Cole available with an extra day of rest if the Division Series goes to extremes or have him ready to start Game 1 of the ALCS if the Yankees beat Cleveland in four games.
Gerrit Cole would start Games 1 and 4 of the ALDS.Paul J. Bereswill)
Nestor Cortes looks to start in Games 2 and 5. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But the Yankees plan to have Taillon in the bullpen in the Division Series, maybe even in high leverage situations. Taillon has never relieved in the majors. However, the Yankees believe that his stuff can pile up during a short emergency outing, and that he has weapons to retire left or right.