TORONTO — It took a couple of minute.
After the Yankees clinched the American league East title Tuesday evening, Aaron Judge made it clear he needed to play the subsequent day. And Aaron Boone mentioned “OK.”
Judge performed for the forty ninth straight sport Wednesday as he continued his pursuit of the American League single-season residence run document. The Yankees slugger had been “stuck” on 60 residence runs for seven straight video games going into the sequence finale in opposition to the Blue Jays on the Rogers Centre. Judge could have seven video games after Wednesday evening, simply three at Yankee Stadium to try to make historical past.
Judge was certainly one of 4 common starters within the lineup after Tuesday evening’s celebration with Josh Donaldson, Harrison Bader and Oswaldo Cabrera additionally taking part in.
Judge’s “drought” of 31 plate appearances with no residence run is his second longest of 2022. He went 41 plate appearances over 9 video games in August with out hit a homer.
Judge was walked 4 occasions on Tuesday and lined out within the first inning. He labored the depend full in all 5 plate appearances. Only 15 of 55 pitches that Judge has seen on this sequence have been within the strike zone.
DJ GIVING IT A GO
DJ LeMahieu shall be activated and attempt to play on Friday within the sequence opener in opposition to the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. It’s an try to see if he can contribute within the playoffs.
“So DJ is going to go through another full workout today. With the idea that Friday’s gonna go and give it a go,” Boone mentioned.
LeMahieu has been on the injured checklist since Sept. 5 with irritation within the space of his proper massive and second toe. He has been taking part in by it since earlier than the All-Star break, when he had a cortisone shot to try to get some reduction. Lately, the Yankees have been speaking about methods to restrict the ache, together with pictures.
LeMahieu, who has 4 years left on his $90 million take care of the Yankees, has been a key cog within the Bombers’ offense the previous few years. A contact hitter who gained the batting title in 2020, LeMahieu often leads off. LeMahieu is slashing .262/.358/.381 with a .740 OPS, 12 residence runs, 18 doubles and 46 RBI in 120 video games.
GUEST MANAGER
With many regulars off, Boone had some assist managing on Wednesday. Anthony Rizzo stepped up into the position of assistant supervisor to assist Boone.
“Once we settled on, which guys we wanted to have down and things like that. We kind of worked it out together,” Boone mentioned of the lineup that Rizzo helped him work out. “I am looking forward to having them down there near me at the end and maybe I’ll step back a little bit.”
STANTON STRUGGLES
Giancarlo Stanton, who was not within the lineup Wednesday evening permitting Judge to be the designated hitter, isn’t going to be again taking part in the outfield anytime quickly. Boone had mentioned he thought that could possibly be an possibility when Stanton got here again from his leg harm final month.
“We have not crossed the outfield bridge at all. We’re just trying to get him on track offensively,” Boone mentioned. “Trying to get him going there, but outfield right now seems like not in the mix.”
Since his return from an Achilles harm final month, Stanton is hitting .146/.241/.281 with a .522 OPS, 4 homers and 14 RBI over 26 video games.
IT’S NOT ALL 100
Boone is 5 wins away from his third 100-win season with the Yankees. It’s not his objective although.
“I’d love to see 100 I mean, but I mean there’s other more important things right now,” Boone mentioned. “We punched our ticket by winning the east and so whatever happens from here on out, like we want to win every game and if we do that we get to 100 and that’s another achievement in and of itself, but certainly not the most important thing.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com