Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger were both in the lineup for Sunday afternoon’s series finale in St. Louis, marking the return of two important cogs to the Yankees lineup.
However, Giancarlo Stanton missed his third straight start.
Since starting in right field for the third consecutive game on Wednesday night, Stanton has not been in the lineup.
Stanton did not play in the Yankees’ victories against the Cardinals on Friday or Saturday, and the team was off on Thursday.
According to Newsday, manager Aaron Boone stated prior to Saturday’s game that Stanton was suffering with lower-body issues and that it was a little harder to recover from the last one.
Stanton had prepared to pinch-hit in Friday’s game flawlessly, according to Boone on Saturday.
Aaron Judge is still limited to DH duty while he heals from a flexor strain in his right elbow, so the Yankees have deployed Stanton, 35, in right field.
Stanton has played right field five times, including four starts, on back-to-back days from August 9 to Wednesday.
Due to tennis elbow in both arms, the right-swinging Stanton, who has a history of lower-body problems, missed more than two months of action to start the season.
Since then, he has been one of the Yankees’ top hitters, entering Sunday with a.299 average, 12 home runs, 34 RBI, and a.949 OPS in 43 games.
Judge, meanwhile, has been making strides in his throwing regimen in preparation for a comeback to the outfield.
On Sunday, Judge, 33, was the Yankees’ DH for the eleventh consecutive game. Following a 10-day stay on the disabled list, the defending American League MVP made his comeback on August 5.
After missing Saturday’s game due to sickness, Bellinger started in right field on Sunday. The 30-year-old versatile veteran started at first base in Friday night’s 4-3 victory.
For the first time since he sustained a low-grade, inflammatory right knee sprain on Tuesday night, Goldschmidt returned to the starting lineup on Sunday, playing first base.
Goldschmidt had to recover to make the grab after overrunning the ball during a foul pop out, which resulted in the injury. He didn’t play on Wednesday, but he was still in that game.
On Wednesday, Goldschmidt stated, “I don’t think it’s anything long-term, so that’s good.”
The 37-year-old Goldschmidt joined Friday’s victory as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning, after not starting either of the first two games in St. Louis. In the game, he didn’t take an at-bat.
With a.404 average and 1.191 OPS versus lefties going into Sunday, Goldschmidt has been at his best when facing left-handed pitchers.
However, he made a comeback to the starting lineup on Sunday against Miles Mikolas, a right-hander for the Cardinals. Ben Rice, the first baseman on Saturday night, began at catcher, while Austin Wells, the Yankees’ catcher, sat for the day game following a night game.
Jos Caballero started at shortstop on Sunday, giving Anthony Volpe a rare day off. The 24-year-old Volpe had started 46 straight games.
The quick Caballero was acquired by the Yankees prior to the trade deadline last month. Since then, Caballero has played in right field, second base, and third base, but Sunday was his first start at shortstop with the Yankees.
