In the playoffs, all bets are off for pitching staffs. Starting pitchers become relief pitchers. Relievers who had been counted on all season lose their regular roles. Closers enter earlier than the ninth inning when the game is on the line.
Having burned through most of his best relievers in a low-scoring duel with the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, Yankees Manager Aaron Boone turned to Jameson Taillon. The Yankees’ No. 3 starting pitcher for most of the season, Taillon was making the first relief appearance of his six-year major-league career.
Two lazy fly balls, a line drive and a throwing error by third baseman Josh Donaldson undermined Taillon and felled the Yankees, 4-2, in 10 innings in Game 2 of this best-of-five American League division series.