Yankees name Luis Gil Game 1 ALDS starter against Blue Jays

TORONTO — Luis Gil is up next in the Yankees playoff rotation, trying to follow the lead of the three arms before him.

Gil will get the ball for Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, coming off an AL wild-card series in which the Yankees got strong starts from Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Cam Schlittler.

“Just feel like he’s ready for this, he’s in line for it,” manager Aaron Boone said Friday. “He’s been really effective. It hasn’t always been pretty necessarily, but we know what he’s capable of. The bottom line is he’s gotten results since he’s come back. He’s not afraid out there. His delivery and strike throwing is important for him, and when he’s doing that, he’s very capable.”

Gil, who was not on the wild-card roster because he had last pitched on Sunday for Game 162, was the choice over Will Warren (who the Yankees want to keep in the bullpen), with Fried not available to come back to pitch until Game 2 on Sunday. Gil was not quite himself in 11 starts during the regular season after missing four months with a high-grade lat strain. But he still found a way to be effective and limit damage, posting a 3.32 ERA.

“I finally feel that I’m 100 percent,” Gil said through an interpreter. “Right now you just have to go and battle. But as far as maturing and where I’m at today throughout my career, I think experience plays a big part of that. Growing and maturing as a pitcher, I think has allowed me [to do that].”

Gil’s abbreviated season included one start against the Blue Jays last month, when he tossed six innings of one-run ball while walking four and striking out only one.

Warren had also made one start against the Blue Jays this year, when he gave up a season-high eight runs on 10 hits and four walks here in July.

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After pitching in the ALCS and World Series last October, Gil has not been able to miss bats at the rate he was during his Rookie of the Year campaign.

His strikeouts per nine innings have gone from 10.1 to 6.5, while he has battled his command and walked 5.2 batters per nine.

“I think it’s a matter of experience and growing as a pitcher,” Gil said. “You find ways to get guys out, especially if you’re getting good results, and you keep evolving. It doesn’t mean it’s not going to be there. It’s part of pitching.”

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After Gil, the Yankees are lined up to return to Fried for Game 2, Rodón for Game 3 and Schlittler for Game 4 if necessary.

If it gets to a Game 5, Fried would be on normal rest to start that game too.

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In the AL wild-card series, Fried, Rodón and Schlittler combined to throw 20 ¹/₃ innings while giving up just three runs (all charged to Rodón).