The Yankees played their second game without Giancarlo Stanton since the slugger went down with a Grade 2 hamstring strain which manager Aaron Boone hopes will only keep him out for six weeks.
They also played their second straight game with Anthony Volpe batting leadoff and DJ LeMahieu hitting fifth.
That order could become more of the norm while Stanton is out. The Yankees now need LeMahieu’s bat in the middle of the lineup more than in his regular spot at leadoff.
“That’s certainly possible,” Boone said Tuesday before the Yankees’ 5-2 loss to the Angels. “It’s that way again today and we’ll see moving forward. I potentially like that.”
Though Volpe entered Tuesday batting just .191 with a .628 OPS through his first 16 games as a big leaguer, his advanced approach at the plate and his knack for stealing bases make him an intriguing option at the leadoff spot.
He went 0-for-3 with two walks, one of them driving in a run, against the Angels.
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“His DNA is: Control the strike zone,” Boone said. “I think when he really gets rolling, you’re going to see that at a really high level. I think even these first couple weeks when he hasn’t been on fire yet, you still see that in there, his ability to lay off pitches. So I think he’s cut out for that. Obviously you add the speed mix to it, but yeah, I think he has it all in there. Whether he’s hitting ninth or hitting first, I think the heartbeat, between the ears, he’s equipped to handle it all.”
Harrison Bader (strained oblique) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment on Friday, after facing Luis Severino during a live batting practice session Thursday.
“He’s doing really well and he’s been full bore now these last couple days,” Boone said.
Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow inflammation) could start a throwing program by the end of the week. … LeMahieu got angry with home plate umpire Dan Merzel in the eighth inning after striking out on what he thought was a quick pitch from Jaime Barria, according to Boone.
Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow inflammation) could start a throwing program by the end of the week.
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