On Saturday, St. Louis had another right-hander on the mound and Oswaldo Cabrera started at first base, forcing DJ LeMahieu to once again sit on the bench in a 6-5 loss in the Bronx.
Anthony Rizzo is expected to return to the Yankees' lineup on Sunday and Jazz Chisolm Jr. is expected to solidify his spot at third base, making things even tougher for a struggling LeMahieu, who hasn't hit an extra base in 52 at-bats since Aug. 8.
Asked before Saturday's game if he was worried about his future with the team, LeMahieu said, “You just have to keep hustling.”
“I'm not getting discouraged or feeling sorry for myself,” said LeMahieu, who has the fourth-lowest OPS among hitters with at least 220 major league plate appearances. “I've always made adjustments throughout my career. This time in my career is a different adjustment than it's ever been, but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up.”
And he expects to remain a contributor. “That's where my heart is.”
LeMahieu added that he's open to whatever role he ends up in going forward, and said the team plans to expand the roster by adding a position player and a pitcher on Sunday, but hasn't had discussions with the team about what that might look like.
“I'm OK,” LeMahieu said, “I haven't played my best. I just want to help the team in any way I can.”
Now that may be even harder.
He has two years and $30 million remaining on his contract after this season, but the Yankees will have to ask themselves some tough questions about the 36-year-old, whose hitting is in steep decline.
Cabrera's use at first base for the second time this season is indicative of where left-handed hitter Ben Rice is positioned at the plate, with the rookie managing just one hit in his last 24 at-bats.
Rice could be sent back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre if Rizzo returns, but LeMahieu is also without third base and Jon Berti could be back in about a week from a calf injury.
“I [Rizzo] “I'm back,” LeMahieu said. “I just have to keep going.”
He added that he continues to make changes at the plate but to no avail.
“I've said this all year, I'll feel good and then I'll have a setback,” LeMahieu said. “The inconsistency is really tough. I want to make adjustments, but I also want to be ready to step in the box.”
