#Why Yankees didn’t play DJ LeMahieu full game in his return

“#Why Yankees didn’t play DJ LeMahieu full game in his return”

July 26, 2020 | 6:40am

WASHINGTON — DJ LeMahieu returned to the Yankees’ lineup Saturday night hitting leadoff and playing second base after not participating in the first game of the season against the Nationals on Thursday night at Nationals Park.

Before the 9-2 loss Boone mentioned not playing LeMahieu all nine innings because he wanted him ready to face Nationals lefty Patrick Corbin on Sunday. So after five innings in the field and going 1-for-3 with an RBI Boone replaced LeMahieu with Thairo Estrada.

“Some long innings out there. I was planning five or six [innings] for him. I considered holding him for that next at-bat, but I just felt like with the long innings and wanting to play him [Sunday] I thought it was the right thing to get him out of there at that time,’’ Boone said of LeMahieu, who reported to spring training 2.0 late due to testing positive for COVID-19.

After facing Jordan Montgomery in a simulated game on Friday, LeMahieu said he believed he could have played longer.

“I felt real good, I wanted to go all nine,’’ LeMahieu said.

DJ LeMahieu stands next to Giancarlo Stanton (No. 27) and Aaron Hicks during the national anthem before Saturday night's game. — DJ LeMahieu stands next to Giancarlo Stanton (No. 27) and Aaron Hicks during the national anthem before Saturday night’s game.AP

Asked when he expected that, LeMahieu said, “Tomorrow and from here on out.’’

Montgomery will start the home opener against the Phillies on Wednesday.

Clint Frazier paid the price for the Yankees needing five relievers in Saturday night’s loss.

Frazier and Ben Heller, who worked Saturday night’s game, were optioned to the Yankees’ alternate site in Scranton and right-handed pitchers Brooks Kriske and Nick Nelson were recalled.

Frazier didn’t appear in the first two games of the season and the Yankees have Mike Tauchman, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Wade to back up in the outfield.

Chad Green wasn’t needed in relief, so that puts him in position to serve as the Yankees’ first opener of the season on Sunday. Nevertheless, Boone wasn’t going to commit to that after the Nationals put a beating on his club.

“I feel like we are in pretty good shape. We are going to talk through some things and figure how we want to go,’’ Boone said.

According to Boone, Masahiro Tanaka came out of Friday’s workout in good shape but the manager wasn’t ready to say when the right-hander will make a big league start.

“My understanding, good,’’ Boone said of Tanaka’s bullpen session. “I think he is in line to throw his sim game [Sunday],’’ Boone said.

Asked if that goes well would Tanaka’s next outing be in the big leagues, Boone said. “Possibly, let’s get through [Sunday] and see where we are at and that would be the hope he could potentially join us his next turn through.’’