Life with out Giancarlo Stanton means utterly completely different seems to be like for the Yankees lineup.
With the designated hitter/outfielder struggling a Grade 2 left hamstring stress over the weekend, Aaron Boone acknowledged that he’s further open to configurations that operate Anthony Volpe inside the leadoff spot and DJ LeMahieu within the midst of the order. Tuesday’s series-opener in the direction of the Angels had the rookie Volpe hitting first and having fun with shortstop, whereas LeMahieu batted fifth and manned third base.
The Yankees moreover used the two in these slots on Sunday, the day after Stanton hurt his hammy.
“You can see that some, yeah. That’s definitely doable,” Boone acknowledged Tuesday sooner than the game. “I doubtlessly like that.”
Already accustomed to shifting spherical defensively, the versatile LeMahieu has been the Bombers’ go-to leadoff man since his first season with the workforce in 2019. Volpe, within the meantime, has largely hit ninth to start out his giant league occupation, though the 21-year-old has led off twice with LeMahieu out of the lineup.
The hope is that the contact oriented LeMahieu can drive further runs in whereas hitting prepared primed to take motion whereas Stanton is out. Volpe, within the meantime, maintains a sharp eye on the prime of the order whereas bringing sooner wheels than LeMahieu’s.
“His DNA is management the strike zone,” Boone acknowledged when requested why he’s comfortable with the neophyte hitting first. “And when he actually will get rolling, you’re gonna see that at a extremely excessive stage. Even these first couple of weeks, and he hasn’t been on fireplace, you continue to see that in there, his capacity to put off pitches. He’s minimize out for that. Clearly, add the pace combine to it.”
Volpe entered Tuesday’s contest, a 5-2 Yankees loss, with seven stolen bases, and he drew a bases-loaded stroll inside the sport that put his workforce on the board. LeMahieu, within the meantime, didn’t report successful inside the loss.
Then there’s Gleyber Torres, who has occupied Stanton’s cleanup spot inside the two video video games since his hurt. Boone hopes to have Stanton once more in six weeks following a scorching start that included 4 dwelling runs and 11 RBI.
Within the meantime, the Yankees can’t alternate the slugger’s vitality, nonetheless they’re hoping these lineup tweaks will protect the offense producing whereas Stanton recovers from his latest leg hurt.
“We’ll simply let it play out the way it does and look ahead to getting him again,” Boone acknowledged. “And within the meantime, create some alternatives for different individuals to hopefully step up and fill the void that clearly he creates within the center.”
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