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Yankees to start rookie Garcia in Game 2 vs. Rays

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport / Getty

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced Monday that rookie right-hander Deivi Garcia will start Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Garcia, 21, will go up against hard-throwing righty Tyler Glasnow on Tuesday.

"For me, it's been a journey of preparing myself, doing everything I can to improve as a player," Garcia said, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "I was hoping for an opportunity to get into a game like this, at this level."

Boone said the fact that the Rays have never faced Garcia before didn't weigh heavily into the decision, noted Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.

The skipper also acknowledged Garcia might be more of an opener with veteran left-hander J.A. Happ coming in after, according to Andy Martino of SNY.

Garcia, who came into the campaign as one of the team's top prospects, posted a 4.98 ERA with an 8.7 K/9 across six regular-season starts for the Yankees in 2020.

New York will give the ball to ace Gerrit Cole on Monday and righty Masahiro Tanaka on Wednesday.

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