5 reasons the Yankees will win the 2019 World Series
4. The potential of the rotation
Yankee fans are disappointed that Luis Severino isn’t healthy at the moment, but if he only misses a month or so of regular season action it could turn into a blessing in disguise. Limiting his innings could allow him to pitch at a dominant level for the full season in 2019.
The trade to add James Paxton to the rotation also gives the team another potential ace to work with. Health is a concern for the towering southpaw, but when he’s on the mound he can really dominate hitters. The Yankees will need to concentrate on making sure he’s ready to pitch at his best when the postseason arrives.
The depth of the rotation should also prove to be a real positive for Boone and his coaching staff. Having J.A. Happ for a full season will give the Yankees a solid veteran to lean on. Masahiro Tanaka will get the ball for the team on Opening Day and he is also capable of showing up big in October. It may not be the most likely outcome, but each of the team’s top four starters could flirt with 20 win seasons in 2019.
CC Sabathia isn’t the dominant ace he was during his prime, but the Yankees are only counting on him to be their No. 5 starter this year. He easily profiles as a plus option in that slot. The Yankees don’t have the best rotation in baseball, but it’s a big improvement over the group that helped them win 100 games last season.