Aaron Judge is still confined to designated hitter duties, while Giancarlo Stanton hit a home run to right field again on Saturday.
Manager Aaron Boone commented that Judge is making progress with his throwing program related to a right flexor strain prior to his upcoming game against Boston, yet no specific timeline for his return to the field has been established.
When asked about the next steps in Judge’s recovery after a tough 12-1 loss at home, Boone said, “We’ll see,” but he noted that Judge feels “close” to beginning throwing exercises.
Overall, Judge mentioned he “feels good” and expressed that he has made strides since returning from an elbow injury.
The Yankees are in dire need of having Judge back in the lineup.
While Stanton performed well, there’s a lingering concern that too much playing time could put him at risk of injury.
He faced considerable challenges on Saturday, notably during the tense ninth inning.
Boone remarked about the difficulties Stanton faced on the field, noting, “It’s a challenge for him to be out there.”
Despite his struggles, Boone acknowledged some effective throws from Stanton, adding that limitations must be accepted.
Stanton has been hitting well, racking up six home runs in his last nine games, including a hit from Garrett Crochet on Saturday, but the rest of the team’s offense has been largely quiet against the Red Sox.
The Yankees’ issues at the plate seem to go beyond just the outfield performance.
Even as people eagerly await Judge’s return to the field, his time at the plate has not been as dominant since coming back from the injured list.
Before his injury, Judge had an impressive OPS of 1.175 and a slugging percentage of .711. However, as of Saturday, in the 15 games since his return, those numbers have dropped to an OPS of .806 and a pedestrian slugging percentage of .412.
When asked about the possible impact of his injury on Judge’s performance, Boone expressed confidence, stating, “I don’t” think it’s affecting him.
Despite showing some promise with a near-fence hit against Crochet and a strong double into right-center against Greg Weissart in the eighth, the struggles continue.
Meanwhile, Paul Blackburn had a forgettable debut with the Yankees after a tough year with the Mets, allowing seven runs in just 3¹/₃ innings, primarily in a disastrous ninth inning.
His performance was also hampered by several fielding errors and an unfortunate balk call.
After being released by the Mets due to a challenging season marked by injuries and a 6.85 ERA, Blackburn signed on with the Yankees.
Boone mentioned that Fernando Cruz (injured) is anticipated to return to the bullpen either Sunday or Monday. Additionally, the lower part of the Yankees’ batting order failed to produce, with the 6th to 9th hitters collectively going 0-for-13, contributing to five strikeouts and just two walks from Jose Caballero.
