NEW YORK -- The Yankees have decided to take a designated base stealer and a third catcher into Tuesday night's wild-card game against the Houston Astros.
Rico Noel, who has two career major-league at-bats, has been put on the 25-man roster to steal bases. Noel will be used exclusively as a baserunner if Yankees manager Joe Girardi is looking for speed on the bases. Meanwhile, rookie Gary Sanchez has been added as a third catcher for the game. He also has two career at-bats.
The Yankees have discussed starting right-handed John Ryan Murphy at catcher over regular starter Brian McCann, a lefty, against Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel, ESPN's Buster Olney reported. By including Sanchez on the roster, the Yankees have more flexibility to begin the game with Murphy but switch to McCann if the Astros turn to their bullpen. Sanchez then would serve as the emergency catcher.
In all, the Yankees have taken nine pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders and six outfielders.
For the Astros, center fielder Carlos Gomez is on the roster. Gomez, who missed the final regular-season series with a strained left chest muscle, is expected to start for Houston on Tuesday night.
Also on the Astros roster is right-hander Mike Fiers, a starter who threw a no-hitter in August and has one relief appearance for the Astros this season since he joined Houston with Gomez in a trade from Milwaukee.
The Astros will carry nine pitchers, two catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders into their first playoff game since 2005.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
