ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — If the Yankees can keep their stuff together (i.e. they don’t screw up bunt plays and other baseball nuances), it says here they get past this dynamic Rays team. And if the Yankees can do that, they have the next best thing to a bye on their path to the World Series: an American League Central opponent. 

The Yankees rolled past the Red Sox like they were playing a bunch of computer nerds, which in effect they may have been (see comments from Boston slugger Willson Contreras). Most vitally, the Yankees’ vaunted rotation is as sound and superb as any going. 

The Yankees are in such fine pitching shape they’re bypassing an opportunity in Game 1 of the AL Division Series here to employ the red-hot Carlos Rodón, the AL’s second-hottest starter behind Yankees ace Cam Schlittler, in place of future Hall of Famer Gerrit Cole. I’d have gone with Rodón and his revitalized slider myself, but then, I don’t have to explain my opinions to the Cooperstown-bound Cole. 

Nothing against Cole (except the nine homers he’s allowed in his last four starts), but Rodón’s ERA since returning is 1.89 and his batting average against is an MLB-best .146. Plus, the Rays aren’t nearly as great against lefties (.679 OPS vs. .746 vs. righties), and Rodón completely shut them down (two hits, eight strikeouts) over eight innings 10 days ago.