The Yankees locked up the playoffs some time in the past. They are locked into the second seed within the American League and the first-round bye that comes with it. They can’t overtake the Astros for home-field benefit in these ultimate seven video games. Aaron Judge continues to be sitting on 61 residence runs after going with out a residence run Friday night time within the Yankees’ 2-1 loss to the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
But, there’s nonetheless some significance to those final video games for the Yankees (96-60). They have loads of query marks about their playoff roster make-up that they want to determine over this ultimate regular-season sequence on the Stadium and the 4 video games in Texas. They want to seek out solutions about DJ LeMahieu, Aroldis Chapman and Zack Britton amongst others earlier than they make the selections on who will probably be enjoying for them within the postseason.
Judge went 1-for-2 with a single and three walks, however continues to be tied with Roger Maris for probably the most residence runs hit in a single season by an American League or Yankee participant.
Oswaldo Cabrera appears to be locking in his spot. He hit his fifth residence run Friday night time. The rookie is 20-59 with 10 extra-base hits and 14 RBI over his final 17 video games. He hit simply .187/.225/.253 in his first 21 large league video games. Domingo German allowed two runs on three hits over 5.1 innings. He walked three and struck out six.
Friday, Britton struggled with command once more in his third look since getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure in simply 12 and a half months. After strolling a batter, Britton summoned the coach after throwing a wild pitch, leaving the sport mid-at-bat with what the crew introduced as “left arm fatigue.”
LeMahieu got here off the injured checklist Friday night time and went 0-for-3 earlier than being pulled within the eighth in his first recreation since Sept. 4. He has been enjoying by way of painful irritation in his proper large/second toe space since earlier than the All-Star break when he had a cortisone shot to attempt to get some aid. Lately, the Yankees have been speaking about methods to restrict the ache, together with photographs.
These previous few video games of the season will probably be a check for LeMahieu, who admitted the opposite day he will probably be “useless,” to the Yankees if he can’t get good swings off. The torque on the toe throughout swings has been a very robust concern for him. So, he’ll see if he can contribute sufficient to be on the playoff roster.
“I think it will just show itself,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated when requested how he’ll know if LeMahieu generally is a productive member of the playoff roster. “We’ll see how he responds, see how he reacts to it. And then try and make determinations about if he’s really able to get his swing off what that does to him. How does it affect them as the game unfolds? The next day? All those things, so we’ll just kind of make those evaluations as we go.”
LeMahieu admitted the damage has affected him, hurting him as he tries to push off on his swing.
The Yankees additionally obtained a have a look at Chapman, who was their nearer till dropping their confidence this season, Friday night time. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning, however the 34 yr previous has the bottom strikeout fee and the best ERA and stroll fee of his profession. The Bombers have largely solely used him in opposition to the underside of the lineup or lower-leverage conditions this yr like when he pitched to the underside of the order in an 8-3 recreation in opposition to the Blue Jays this week.
When requested if Chapman had locked up a spot on the playoff roster, Boone didn’t immediately reply.
“I’m really excited about where Chappie is physically. And, he has an outing like he did the other night in Toronto where you see it. It’s like, that’s it right there. I mean, that’s dynamic,” Boone stated. “And we know he can be that guy. So it’ll be an important week for him to, you know, hopefully get some regular work and continue to kind of have that consistency.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com