A detailed look at the New York Yankees from a major league scout

The Red Sox have seen plenty of the Yankees already this season. They just wrapped up the regular season with a three-game series at Fenway, and the week before that, the clubs squared off for three games in the Bronx.

In all, the rivals met 19 times during the regular season and twice more in spring training.

In other words, there are no secrets between them. But the post-season requires extensive scouting of opponents, with every detail explored. We spoke with a major league scout who was assigned to the Yankees this season for his in-depth look at the Red Sox' ALDS opponent.

POSITION PLAYERS

STARTING LINEUP

1B Luke Voit: "He's done very well, a real surprise in the second half...Like a lot of big guys, you don't want to let him extend his arms...You get him out by making sure you don't hang a breaking ball, because that's a pitch he'll pull and hit out...Throw him a breaking ball that starts in the zone, but finishes out...If you're throwing a fastball, come in tight...Defensively, he's only adequate...Has decent range to his right...As we saw (in the Wild Card game), he can have trouble digging balls out (at first).''

2B Gleyber Torres: "Could be an offensive sleeper...Everyone looks at the big guys in the lineup, but he's capable of doing damage in the bottom third of the order...Prone to strikeouts...Has a tendency of losing focus at times...I've seen balls go through his legs and he has a habit of trying to backhand balls that he doesn't have to backhand...When he makes a mistake (defensively), it's because he gets lazy...He turns the double play fine and when they shift him behind the bag, he has more than enough arm strength to make good throws to first.''

SS Didi Gregorius: "'A much better player than what the Yankees thought they were getting when they traded for him...He's an All-Star-caliber shortstop who might never make the All-Star team because there are so many good shortstops in the A.L...Solid defensively...He can go into the hole and he also comes in on balls well...Can his lefty pitching...His power shows up at Yankee Stadium, but he's special anywhere...He's a mistake hitter and will chase pitches down low...He' a typical lefty hitter with good lift to his swing...You can get him with high, hard stuff, then breaking balls out of the zone...Righties will throw him that backfoot slider.''

3B Miguel Andujar: "Great raw power, with the ability to really drive the ball...He takes big cuts, with nothing wasted...Does most of his damage to the pull side...Doesn't seem intimidated by the big stage...Erratic defensively...Will make some poor throws across the diamond and hurry some throws he doesn't need to...The Yankees might hold their breath when the balls hit to him...I could see him being lifted late in games because you can't risk a game getting away.''

C Gary  Sanchez: :"There's no doubt about his power potential...Could see him having trouble with (Chris) Sale's slider or (David) Price's cutter...Has a tendency to chase pitches low...Always the possibility that he can hit something 400 feet, but he's been handled of late...His defense is scary and it could be major negative...Always susceptible to passed balls...Has as strong an arm as any catcher in the league.''

DH Giancarlo Stanton: "Misses too many pitches for me...I know what he's capable of with his great raw power, which can turn a game around in a hurry...But I haven't seem him deliver when it counts. Seems like he hits a lot of his homers when they're up 5-0 or behind 7-1...Still waiting for him to rise to the occasion...He's susceptible to good fastballs and they don't always have to be 95 mph-plus...Two things: don't let him get his arms out and don't hang anything to him...Had always heard that he's a liability in the field, but I think he's at least adequate...I've seen him cover ground and his arm is OK.''

LF Andrew McCutchen: "Has uncanny ability to get on base...He's not afraid to take pitches and he'll set the table for the middle of the order...Not the same player he was in his prime in Pittsburgh, but he makes up for that with his smarts and experience...He's a little slower in the outfield and belongs in the corners now, not center field...Still capable of hitting the ball out on occasion.''

CF Aaron Hicks: "He's done better as he's been given more of a chance to play...He's a very rangy outfielder with a plus-plus arm...His defense gives him the most value, but he can provide offense...He surprises people with his bat....I don't think there's one thing that can consistently get him out...His chase rate isn't out of the ordinary...He's a better-than-average runner, but won't always show it...Occasionally prone to mental lapses.''

RF Aaron Judge: "He's developed into a much, much better player than I expected when I saw him in the minors...The power was always there, but he's become a more intelligent hitter...He does have a tendency to swing through some pitches, and he'll chase some breaking pitches...If his (injured) wrist was an issue when he first came back, it's not anymore...He's also gotten better defensively and he's got a plus arm.''

BENCH

OF Brett Gardner: "Can work the count and be a pest at the plate...Has a bit of a funky swing, but if you throw him soft stuff, he's capable of wrapping the ball around the Pesky Pole in Fenway....Go after him with gas...He has center field skills, but has mostly played left...Could come off the bench and do some damage.''

C Austin Romine: "Won't give you much offense and certainly won't hit for much average, but he's not there for his bat...He's the guy who can spell Sanchez and come into the game late to give them someone they can trust behind the plate.''

INF Neil Walker: "I've seen him more from the left side, and I think he's more dangerous from that side...Not an everyday player anymore, but he's a nice piece to have to come off the bench...A veteran who won't panic.''

INF Adeiny Hechavarria: "Like a center fielder who can play all three outfield spots, he's a talented shortstop who can play all over the infield...Great reaction time, plus range in the field, but won't give you much at the plate.''

STARTING ROTATION

LHP J.A. Happ: "A veteran who really knows how to pitch...Mixes his pitches well...Has a plan about how to go after guys and he usually executes it...Will throw the slider to lefties and the changeup to righties and mix in his fastball.''

LHP CC Sabathia: "He's been around so long and has re-invented himself...Great competitor and teammate...At this point in his career, he can lose it quickly - he can get you 12 quick outs, then, before you know it, he gives up four runs...If they get four innings form him, they'll be happy...He'll give you a quality outing, but it will likely be brief...He can throw a cutter, slider, changeup and curve and because his fastball isn't what it used to be, he needs that mix...Benefits from a bigger strike zone and depends on hitters to chase.''

RHP Masahiro Tanaka: "He lives and dies with his splitter...Hard to predict...He doesn't throw a lot of fastballs anymore...Mostly goes with his slider and split, and like anyone who throws a good split, it's usually below strike zone...It's very important for him to get ahead in the count...If he's ahead 1-and-2, you've got to chase the low split...If you have to face him, go up there swinging and don't let him get you into a pitcher's count...Hit the first or second pitch in the at-bat.''

RHP Luis Severino: "He's primarily fastball/slider, but he has a good changeup at times...When he throws his slider to right-handed hitters, it's most effective when it's just out of the zone. The question is: can you be disciplined enough not to chase it?...His fastball has become hittable because it doesn't have that run to it...He'll walk guys at times, and his command seems to come and go...Overall, very streaky.''

BULLPEN

Closer LHP Aroldis Chapman: "His only problem comes when he doesn't throw strikes, but that can happen...His slider has become more effective and he's thrown it this season more than ever...He often throws it below the zone, but when you're gearing up for triple digits (with his fastball), you don't have a lot of time to react to it.''

LHP Zach Britton: "He'll lose the strike zone sometimes, but when he's on, can be very tough...His ground ball rate is off the charts....His two-seamer sinks, but sometimes behaves more like a split in that it doesn't run in, but moves down...He doesn't have the punch-out ability of others in that bullpen, but he gets a ton of ground balls and can get out of jams with double plays.''

RHP Dellin Betances: "Throws a hard curve that behaves more like a slider...Nobody hits that breaking pitches...His strikeouts come on his breaking ball...His command has been better of late...One of the few guys in the New York bullpen who can come in with traffic...Because of his size, he has a tendency to open up with his delivery and his arm action can get long.''

RHP Chad Green: "Dominant last year with his fastball/slider mix, but hasn't been the same this year...Not as reliable...Don't think you'll see him in any high-leverage spots.''

RHP David Robertson: "Throws a crazy amount of strikes and can give you multiple innings...Used to throw a fastball and a hard curve, but now, it's more curve and slider...Durable and capable of pitching several days in a row.''