#Deivi Garcia ‘in line’ for first start of season with Yankees

CLEVELAND — Deivi Garcia could get his first start of the season Monday in Baltimore.

Aaron Boone said before Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Indians that though the team wasn’t “fully committed” to going with the right-hander against the Orioles, Garcia was “in line to take the start.”

Garcia was set to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation during spring training, but Domingo German pitched significantly better. Garcia has been at the alternate site and once he was optioned, Boone pointed to this 13-game stretch without a day off as when the Yankees could turn to a sixth starter.

The 21-year-old Garcia started six games after being called up last season and showed flashes of why the Yankees were so high on him, but he has yet to display consistency in the majors. Another young right-hander expected to play a role in the rotation at some point this year, Clarke Schmidt, is finally making some progress from the elbow strain that sidelined him in February.

Boone said Schmidt had played catch two or three times after being shut down for longer than expected. He needed a cortisone shot since he was still dealing with discomfort in the elbow.

“He’s doing well,’’ Boone said. “Hopefully he’s on his way. It’s been a while, so he has to be built back up.”

Because of that, the 25-year-old needs to go through essentially another spring training before he can contribute, likely at least 6-8 weeks.

---

Shane Bieber’s first pitch of the night was a 93 mph fastball up and in on DJ LeMahieu. It was the first of at least three pitches to LeMahieu and Aaron Judge in that area, something Boone noticed.

“You never like seeing guys get twisted around, but it happens,’’ Boone said.

---

Gleyber Torres, the focus of much attention for not running out a check-swing comebacker in Wednesday’s loss to the Braves, beat out an infield single to third in the sixth inning on Saturday.

---

Boone kept Giancarlo Stanton in the two-hole in the lineup, with Judge third, after Stanton’s two-homer night on Friday.

The manager said the switch was made initially to mix things up a bit, but he believes Stanton and Judge are “somewhat interchangeable.”

“Aaron liked moving down into that slot,’’ Boone said. “I may continue to tinker with some things. Right now, I like how it sets up.”

---

Jameson Taillon continues to be encouraged by his curveball, which he said was better in his previous outing.“Something clicked,’’ Taillon said of the pitch. “It’s much sharper.”

Just as importantly, the right-hander who is coming off his second Tommy John surgery, said he feels healthy and hasn’t had to alter his routine between starts, which is a positive sign. Just as important, the right-hander who is coming off his second Tommy John surgery, said he feels healthy and hasn’t had to alter his routine between starts, which is a positive sign.