#Masahiro Tanaka set for major step as Yankees rotation shuffle begins
“#Masahiro Tanaka set for major step as Yankees rotation shuffle begins”
“Everything went well, so I would expect him to face hitters, perhaps Tuesday,’’ Aaron Boone said.
Tanaka working the first time through the five-man rotation isn’t likely since the Yankees will be careful with the 31-year-old. It is possible he will be able to start at the back end of the second trip through the rotation.
With Tanaka out, Jordan Montgomery moves up from fifth starter to fourth. There are several options for Boone for the fifth game. One is to bring Opening Day starter Gerrit Cole back on regular four days’ rest on July 28 in Philadelphia, or use Mike King or Jonathan Loaisiga to start. Another option is using Chad Green as an opener.
Luis Cessa joined spring training 2.0 on Sunday. The right-hander had been quarantining away from camp after testing positive for COVID-19.
“He feels great. He is out playing catch [Sunday] and he will throw a bullpen [Monday]. We will see where he is at and start to map out a plan,’’ Boone said.
Unlike Saturday night at Citi Field, the Yankees didn’t fill the seats behind home plate Sunday night at Yankee Stadium with cardboard cutout faces of fans like the Mets did.
The Yankees did pump recorded crowd noise into the Stadium.
Boone called Thairo Estrada, “The MVP of the summer camp so far’’ on Saturday night after the versatile infielder drove in a run.
Sunday, the manager said Estrada was very much in the mix to grab a spot on the 30-man roster.
“Versatility is certainly one of the things that is appealing about Thairo. Obviously he can play in the middle of the diamond and we saw on the fly be able to play the outfield,’’ Boone said of the 24-year-old who was limited to 18 minor league games in 2018 after being shot in the hip during the offseason. He played in 35 big-league games in 2019. “He runs well. He did a good job with the bat last year and I feel he is even better this year and just love the makeup of the person. There is a lot of things Thairo brings to the table. Add all those things up and he is very much in play.’’
Obviously, Estrada was thrilled to be in play for a big league roster spot.
“That would be super exciting. I would be very happy if the opportunity comes true,’’ said Estrada, who hit .250 in the big leagues last year. “For me it is just a matter of being ready for any situation that comes up in the game.’’
Boone was pleased Domingo German changed his mind on Saturday about leaving baseball, which German said he was doing Friday in an internet post. However, Boone wants to know more about the situation before addressing the issue.
“I kind of reserve comment until I have a handle on the situation,’’ Boone said. “First and foremost want to make sure he is OK.”
Boone hasn’t shut the door on playing Miguel Andujar in right field just because he lost a ball in the sun last week at Yankee Stadium. Yet, if Andujar plays the outfield, it will likely be in left.
“As of right now with all that we are putting on his plate and he has done such a good job in left that we are kind of keeping him there, but I wouldn’t close the door on right field based on a sun ball,’’ Boone said.
Aaron Hicks says he is past worrying about letting a throw go with a right elbow that underwent Tommy John surgery following last season. However, the center fielder still has a slice of doubt.
“There is something in the back of my head that still has the memory of what it felt like when I used to let it go, especially in the postseason and kind of felt that pain,’’ Hicks said Sunday. “I really haven’t thought about it in a while. Obviously when a game situation I am going to do it organically and kind of see how it goes.’’
Aaron Judge, Hicks, Gary Sanchez, Luke Voit, Brett Gardner and DJ LeMahieu were in Boone’s lineup Sunday night after not making the trip to Citi Field on Saturday.
Third baseman Gio Urshela wasn’t, but that had nothing to do with Urshela getting hit in the groin during batting practice Saturday. Instead, Boone wanted his regulars to play in three of the final spring training 2.0 games (counting Friday night’s intrasquad game and Monday night’s exhibition game against the Phillies). Urshela played Saturday night.
Right-hander Deivi Garcia starts for the Yankees on Monday night at Yankee Stadium against the Phillies.
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