When the Yankees’ season starts again, probably in Atlanta on Tuesday, Aaron Boone will write Aaron Judge in the lineup card for the first time in two weeks.
‘He looks good. He looks ready to go, ” said Boone of the judge, who attended a team training session at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. “When we get back, Aaron will be there.” ‘
While getting the downtrodden right fielder back from a injured right calf certainly helps a lineup that can use an influx of muscles, do not look to Judge to lead a parade of players returning soon from the injured list.
Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (penalty left hamstring) and second baseman DJ LeMahieu (spread left thumb) participated in baseball activities during training, but they did not knock on the front door. James Paxton will not throw a ball for two weeks due to a flexor strain in his left arm and shortstop Gleyber Torres is out for two to three weeks with left hamstring and quad problems. Zack Britton nurses a strained left hamstring he had Wednesday night.
“Overall, it seems like I’m pretty happy with it not being too serious,” said Britton, who threw flat ground in the stadium on Saturday. ‘I will not bring a date [returning] still, but hopefully we can get it fast in that period of 10 days. ”
Due to a Mets player and coach testing positive for the coronavirus, the first of three games of the Subway Series plan for Citi Field was postponed this weekend. Saturday, Boone did not sound encouraging that the teams would make one or two games on Monday if each team was eliminated.
“It does not look like that,” Boone said Monday, playing the Mets.
So, if the Yankees open a two-game series against the Braves on Tuesday, they will not have played a game since this past Thursday, when the Rays completed a sweep in three games in The Bronx. It’s the second time this season that the Yankees have postponed games due to COVID-19 issues.
Ideally, Boone would prefer to play Friday night to experience the raucous taste of getting lost between his gums and cheeks.
‘I do not like the few days [off]. I would rather play and come back. You never want to go into an off-day of loss. That always fits a little in the belly, ” Boone said via Zoom of the stadium on Saturday. “We will do our best. This is a year where you need to be able to make adjustments and be able to make adjustments. We will most likely try to have a few days for free, hopefully we can reset a little bit. ”
Clint Frazier and Mike Tauchman started the eight games that Judge missed, and although they combined to hit .429 (12-for-28) with two homers and 10 RBIs, Judge is getting back on track.
In 17 games, Judge hit .290 (18-for-62) with nine homers, 20 RBIs and placed a 1,101 OPS. His .267 average, three homers and 10 RBIs with rounds in scoring position are welcomed after the Yankees went 1-for-21 in the three losses to the Rays.
If a trade does not occur, it looks like Boone will use Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada in the short term in Torres’ absence. The manager said he would not be opposed to moving third baseman Gio Urshela into a game if he had to, but did not respond that he would start the sure-handed and accurate throw of Urshela shortly. That probably means Miguel Andujar will not be promoted from the alternative site in Scranton to take Torres’ roster spot.
As for who completes Paxton’s place in the rotation, Boone did not dismiss Clarke Schmidt in the mix, although he is not on the list of 40 men.
“He is certainly doing well and the reports we continue to receive are strong,” Boone said of the judge.
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