The Yankees need to utilize most of their key rotation by a wide margin

LOS ANGELES – The Yankees' one big advantage in this mega-market World Series is their rotation. Unlike the Dodgers, who only have three starters left – some say 2 ½ – the Yankees have a full starting lineup.

That should be huge – if they use their pitchers correctly.

If the Yankees want to pull off a mild upset, they'll have to win the rotation battle big time. The Yankees won Game 1, but not by a large margin.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole showed impressive speed (up to 98.2 mph) and excellent control (61 hits in 88 pitches) to take a 2-1 lead early in the seventh inning by hitting a fairly dominant jack Flaherty, who used much better, easily passed Velo (up to 96, better than against the Mets) and a great ankle curve to produce 19 swings and misses.

Some were in favor of staying with Cole.

“I'm not sure why Cole gets out… it doesn't make sense to keep him out for the seventh time, have him face a batter and then get him out,” one scout said.

That's questionable since Cole hasn't been quite himself lately. What is undeniable, however, is the Yankees' talent/readiness advantage in the rotation – and, most importantly, their enviable depth. They are a rare playoff team with the full complement of four starters in a year where injury rates are epidemic and arm wear and tear are rampant.

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“We have the same process every year, but some years you’re luckier than others,” GM Brian Cashman said. “It's difficult. It's difficult to keep them all healthy. But we were lucky.”

They are lucky that they can get at least a reasonable lead in all four matches. But honestly, Flaherty was almost Cole's equal.

Somewhat ironically, the Dodgers received Flaherty at the deadline as the Yankees backed away from a potential trade due to lower back issues. (It's hard to imagine the Dodgers in this World Series without Flaherty, since they would be down to two starters – Yoshinobu Yamamoto, back from shoulder problems, and Walker Buehler, not yet himself.)

The Yankees were expected to send slugging catcher Agustin Ramirez, who completed the key piece in the Jazz-Chisholm trade but ultimately balked at bringing in top pitching prospect Will Warren for a pitcher with a reportedly questionable back.

As it turns out, the Yankees still have a true and complete rotation ready, with Carlos Rodon, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil lined up to follow Cole.