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Yankees’ World Series roster announced: See who’s in, who’s out vs Dodgers

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Yankees’ World Series roster announced: See who’s in, who’s out vs Dodgers

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LOS ANGELES − As anticipated, Nestor Cortes has made the cut, with the Yankees choosing to take 13 pitchers into the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Due to a hip flexor strain, the Yankees have taken versatile infielder Jon Berti off the roster, after he’d made the cut for both the AL Division Series and AL Championship Series.

According to manager Aaron Boone, the Yankees were going to take 13 pitchers had Berti been healthy, meaning another position player (possibly Trent Grisham or Jasson Dominguez) would have lost a roster spot.

Cortes missed the first two postseason rounds due to recovery from a left flexor strain, but with how he’s feeling physically and “the magnitude of these games, I’m going to be fine,” the lefty said Friday.

Here’s the Yankees roster:

Yankees’ World Series rotation (4)

Gerrit Cole, RHP

Carlos Rodon, LHP

Clarke Schmidt, RHP

Luis Gil, RHP

Summary: Another upside of Juan Soto’s “at-bat for the ages’’ home run (per Boone’s words) that helped clinch the AL Championship Series on Saturday night was lining up Cole for World Series Game 1.

If the Cleveland Guardians had forced a Game 6, Cole would’ve had that assignment.

Pitching coach Matt Blake suggested the Yanks would follow their ALCS model, with Rodon, Schmidt and Gil to follow.

That puts the younger Schmidt and Gil in Games 3 and 4, with Cole and Rodon able to pitch Games 5 and 6 if necessary, and Cole potentially involved for a piece of an all-hands-on-deck Game 7 scenario.

Yankees’ World Series relievers (9)

Luke Weaver, RHP

Clay Holmes, RHP

Jake Cousins, RHP

Tim Hill, LHP

Mark Leiter Jr., RHP

Tommy Kahnle, RHP

Tim Mayza, LHP

Marcus Stroman, RHP

Nestor Cortes, LHP

Summary: Cortes came through his third and final live simulated outing in good shape and will be available for 20-30 pitches in relief. He hasn’t pitched in a game since mid-September due to a flexor strain.

During his live sessions, Cortes said his velocity was around 88-mph to 91-mph. Since he pitches at 92-93-mph, that gave him the confidence he’d be good to go. “I’m ready for whatever’s needed,” said Cortes.

Stroman has yet to pitch in the postseason, but he makes the cut as an emergency starter/long reliever, as he did in the ALCS.

For a third straight round, the Yankees have taken Mayza as an extra lefty. He’s pitched just 1.1 innings this postseason, but his presence has value.

Ian Hamilton’s calf injury during the ALCS opened the door for Leiter Jr., whose performance and moxie in Games 4 and 5 led to his inclusion here. Leiter Jr. missed the cut for the ALDS and the original ALCS roster.

Yankees’ World Series infielders (5)

Anthony Rizzo, 1B

Gleyber Torres, 2B

Anthony Volpe, SS

Jazz Chisholm Jr., 3B

Oswaldo Cabrera, IF

Summary: Jon Berti’s injury takes away a versatile infielder with base-stealing ability who started twice in the ALDS while Rizzo was still healing from two finger fractures.

Despite playing in discomfort to his right hand, Rizzo batted .429 (6-for-14) in the ALCS and he’s looking to add to his World Series ring collection (2016 Chicago Cubs).

In the Yankees’ nine playoff games, leadoff man Gleyber Torres has reached safely eight times in the first inning, with three walks, three singles and two doubles, with an overall .400 on-base percentage.

An in his first nine career postseason games, Anthony Volpe is a .310 hitter with an .804 OPS.

Yankees’ World Series outfielders/DH (6)

Aaron Judge

Juan Soto

Alex Verdugo

Giancarlo Stanton

Jasson Dominguez

Trent Grisham

Summary: At Berti’s expense, the Yankees chose to keep Dominguez and/or Grisham on the roster for a third straight round.

The defensively-gifted Grisham hasn’t played in any of the Yankees’ nine postseason games to this point, and Dominguez has twice served as a pinch-runner.

Raised in Sherman Oaks, Giancarlo Stanton’s turn as the Yankees’ new Mr. October could continue at Dodger Stadium where he watched games in the left field bleachers.

As he clutched the ALCS MVP award, Stanton said: “This ain’t the trophy I want. I want the next one.’’

With five more big home runs in these playoffs (16 HR in 36 career postseason games), Stanton’s October power show will compete with the Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani storyline.

The likely 2024 MVPs, both Judge (58) and Ohtani (54) led their leagues in home runs.

Yankees’ World Series catchers (2)

Austin Wells

Jose Trevino

Summary: Dropped from the cleanup spot against right-handed starters to No. 8 in ALCS Game 4, Wells broke an 0-for-21 playoff drought with a solo home run.

Boone is likely to continue batting Wells in the lower third of the order. Trevino has started one playoff game (ALCS Game 3) but his ability to stop the running game is a concern.

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