Seeing Dellin Betances using crutches to get from the dugout to the first-base line for Game 1 introductions on Friday night at Yankee Stadium was only a reminder of what the season could have been for the right-handed reliever.
Betances started the year on the injured list with an impingement in his right shoulder and then developed a lat injury. Finally, on Sept. 15 in Toronto, Betances returned and struck out the two batters he faced.
Suddenly, all the work Betances did to get back to the big leagues appeared to have paid off and he looked ready to give a very deep bullpen more depth.