ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When the Yankees beat the Rays Monday night, it turned out they assured a wild-card matchup against the A’s on Oct. 3.
But a pair of veterans of wild-card games said Tuesday that knowing their opponent before the end of the regular season means nothing and won’t impact their preparation for the game.
“Not at all,’’ said Andrew McCutchen, who played in three straight wild-card games with the Pirates from 2013-15. “There’s too much baseball to be played to be thinking about that. We’ve still got to take care of business here.’’
That business is making sure the one-game playoff is played at Yankee Stadium and not on the road.
The A’s, who were officially eliminated from winning the AL West Tuesday, will be the Yankees’ opponent next week.
But David Robertson isn’t looking ahead.
“We’ve got another game against the Rays tonight,’’ Robertson said before the Yankees’ 9-2 win Tuesday night. “I just show up and pitch, no matter who we’re playing or when it is. I don’t put too much stock into planning against who you’re playing. It’s not gonna change anything. The strike zone is still the same size. It’s another game. It’s [game] 163. We’ve just got to win it to get in.”
The strategy worked well for the right-hander a year ago, when he tossed 3 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in a comeback victory against the Twins in The Bronx.
So scouting reports against a surprising A’s team the Yankees split six game with this season and a potential matchup against right-hander Mike Fiers will have to wait.
“That’s for when the [regular] season is over,’’ McCutchen said. “That’s the way I look at it. I’ve learned enough to not look beyond what’s right in front of you. If you start doing that, you lose the importance of right now. That’s my philosophy.”
When the wild-card game is closer, McCutchen said he will be available to give advice to less experienced players about how to handle the situation.
His message: Nothing changes.
“My outlook doesn’t change and the game doesn’t change,’’ McCutchen said. “The only difference between today and that game is we know we’re playing tomorrow. If you don’t win that game, you don’t. Just show up and be ready to go come game time.”
McCutchen said he simplifies things as much as possible.
“For me, that’s important,’’ he said. “Everybody has their own way, but not thinking too deep into things and making it feel like it’s more important is helps me.”
Credit: NY Post</>
via USAHint.com
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