These 3 former Cubs standouts were all left off the Yankees' ALDS roster

It wasn't the cleanest game ever played, but the New York Yankees took Game 1 of the ALDS over the weekend, holding off the Kansas City Royals for a 7-6 win in the Bronx on Saturday afternoon. They did so despite Aaron Judge going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, furthering the narrative that the former MVP isn't built for October.

But we're not here to talk about Judge. We're looking at a trio of former Chicago Cubs players who were notably left off the Yankees' ALDS roster - including one who joined the team from Chicago in a trade made with the postseason in mind.

Anthony Rizzo hopes to be ready should the Yankees advance to ALCS

As the regular season drew to a close, Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch and fractured two fingers in his right hand. It was a fitting end to a frustrating season for the three-time All-Star, who appeared in just 92 games and finished the year with a well below-average 81 OPS+.

Still, he brings a ton of October experience to the table - not to mention Gold Glove-caliber defense. He was seen during the Game 1 broadcast reviewing film in the dugout with Judge, walking him through at-bats to try and get the feared slugger back on track. Fair to say, though, manager Aaron Boone would much rather have the veteran in the lineup.

“I feel a lot better than I did six days ago, but we’re dealing with bones,” Rizzo told reporters over the weekend. “I feel like gutting through it, I wouldn’t be able to be my best version defensively or offensively. I had to be honest with myself. I’m confident, hopefully in the next round, to join them.”

In his stead, Oswaldo Cabrera went 1-for-4 with a double and three strikeouts in the series opener. Set to hit free agency this winter, a triumphant October return could be just what Rizzo needs if he wants to land a multi-year deal at age 35.

Mark Leiter Jr. struggled badly after coming over from the Cubs

If there was one player Jed Hoyer needed to move at the trade deadline, it was Mark Leiter Jr., who pitching very well out of the bullpen for the second straight season. With a wipeout splitter that's near unhittable when he's 'on', the right-hander headed to New York as Brian Cashman looked to add more firepower to his team's bullpen mix.

But, for whatever reason, following the move, Leiter Jr. looked like a shell of the pitcher he was in the first half. The 33-year-old saw his FIP go from 2.12 in Chicago to 5.24 with New York and the long-ball became a major issue (his home run rate with the Yankees this year was five times what it was with the Cubs).

The Yankees front office specifically targeted Leiter as a swing-and-miss arm who could help solidify the bullpen come October. The swing-and-miss has still been there, but the polish quickly came off the veteran, who is too much of a liability to be trusted with World Series aspirations on the line.