Cashman: The Yanks’ WS chances depend on playing “our best baseball.”

Brian Cashman appreciates that the New York Yankees are expected to win World Series titles, not just hope for them.

New York hasn’t even reached the World Series since its 27th championship in 2009, the second-longest losing streak in franchise history. The only longer game came in the Yankees’ first 18 years, from 1903 to 1920.

“We have a great shot, but we only have a great shot when we play our best baseball,” the general manager said Thursday before an American League Division Series against Kansas City. “I know we have the skills, but at the same time I caution that we have had the skills many times and of course you have to combine those skills with great defense, great baserunning and tremendous offensive punches against extremely strong players.” Pitching and of course is the most important aspect of doing your best.”

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 scored with 815 after finishing 25th in 2023 and led the Major Leagues in home runs with 237.

“I truly believe that everyone participating in the tournament right now has a legitimate chance to win this trophy,” Cashman said. “I think we have the strength and will to make it happen and now we have to face an opponent who is very worthy.”

Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole (8-5) will start Saturday night’s opener for New York after recovering from nerve irritation and elbow edema that kept him out of spring training until June 19 have.

Michael Wacha (13-8) starts for the Royals. He held Yankees star Aaron Judge to a 1-for-18 career batting line with three walks and no home runs.

“I’m putting this on a small sample size and I’ll put Aaron Judge against almost anyone on any given day,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “but we know Wacha is a tough customer. He always brought us and us into the game hard. “I know we have a lot of work to do.

New York defeated Kansas City in the 1977 and 1978 AL Championship Series en route to the World Series titles, and the Royals defeated the Yankees in 1980 – leading to George Steinbrenner ousting manager Dick Howser. The following summer, Howser took over as manager of the Royals and led Kansas City to its first World Series title in 1985.

New York won three of four games in Kansas City in June and lost the series finale on Maikel Garcia’s two-run double off Clay Holmes. The Yankees won two of three games in the Bronx last month and lost the middle game when Seth Lugo and two relievers combined for a three-hit shutout for the Royals.

Kansas City defeated Baltimore in a two-game wild-card series, while the Yankees won the AL East and earned a first-round bye and a five-day break. The Royals are led by Bobby Witt Jr., who will likely finish second to Judge in the AL MVP voting, nine-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez and a rotation that includes Wacha, Lugo and Game 2 starter, Cole Ragans, include.

Reliever Lucas Erceg was acquired from Oakland at the July 30 trade deadline, and the 29-year-old right-hander had 11 saves in 13 chances for the Royals, striking out 31 times and striking out three in 25 innings. His fastball averages 98.6 miles per hour.

“From the beginning of the season to now, their bullpen has improved,” Boone said. “A couple guys showed up down there, and then bringing Erceg in as an anchor obviously took their bullpen to a new level.”

Cashman said the Yankees are still deciding on their final roster moves heading into the ALDS, with the status of right-hander Marcus Stroman still uncertain.

“We haven’t made that final decision yet,” he said. “Marcus threw a pitch in the (simulation) game yesterday, he pitched two innings, so we’re trying to keep him with some volume and length. I don’t expect him to be a starter in this series. As far as the role goes, we haven’t made that call yet.

Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo remains questionable for the Division Series after breaking the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand when he was hit by Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Saturday.

“He is in an intensive phase of treatment at the moment,” Cashman said, “a very narrow window for healing. … Much less pain than you would expect and more pressure than you would expect considering what he has lost,” but he has not yet engaged in any baseball activities.

Ben Rice and Oswaldo Cabrera are the primary alternatives initially.

DJ LeMahieu, who also performs first, has been out since September 3rd due to an impingement in his right hip.

“He started doing things,” Cashman said. “The time frame is a little difficult for him.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.