BALTIMORE — One question that looms over the Yankees as the playoffs begin is which Nick Swisher will show up:
The one who hit so well in the clutch all year, including late in the season as the Yankees held off the Orioles in the AL East? Or the one who has been one of the great postseason duds in history?
Baltimore poses a particular hurdle for him because he is 1-for-50 against the five relievers likely to be the Orioles’ five main setup men. No need to rub your eyes. That is right: 1-for-50.
On the positive side, the one hit is a homer he hit last year off Brian Matusz when the lefty was still a starter. The negative side is, well, you know, the other 49 at-bats.
Swisher is 1-for-18 against Matusz and hitless in two at-bats against Darren O’Day. They have emerged as the lefty-right, late-inning duo to set up closer Jim Johnson. Matusz (righties are 0-for-16 against him since he moved to the pen in August) and O’Day replaced Pedro Strop, against whom Swisher is 0-for-6. He also is 0-for-6 against 2011 Yankees teammate Luis Ayala. And Swisher is hitless in 18 at-bats against Jake Arrieta, by far the worst 0-for against any pitcher in his career.
Add that all up and you get 1-for-50.
It is possible that when the Orioles reveal their roster today, Arrieta will not be on it, particularly if Baltimore decides to put extra lefties in the pen, possibly Zach Britton (Swisher is 2-for-9 with four walks off him) or Joe Saunders (Swisher is 7-for-28 with a homer and five walks off him).
As a Yankee, Swisher has hit just .160 in the playoffs. He has four homers, but just five RBIs. This season, though, he led the AL in homers with runners in scoring position (11) and had a 995 OPS in such situations, by far the best on the team.