The Yankees may need to clean up in the cleanup spot.
Austin Wells' rough October didn't improve on Tuesday as he went hitless again and is now 0-for-19 in the postseason after Tuesday's 6-3 win in ALCS Game 2 against Cleveland. and is slumping.
He also had nine strikeouts during that stretch.
Anthony Rizzo broke two fingers on his right hand and was out for 16 days, but two games ago he looked healthy and looked good at the plate, and another left-handed hitter, Jazz Chisholm Jr., hit a double. added. Coach Boone will have to consider at least moving one of them up the order or moving left-handed Wells down.
It was a topic that came up before Wells' recent rough night at the plate.
“I always think about a lot of things, but I didn't really think about it today,” Boone said of hitting Wells. “Even though Austin has had some struggles offensively, I feel like he still had some really big moments and some key spots last month. I feel like he still has that in him. And, hopefully, he'll be able to be here for a few weeks and be hot for us as well, which would be great.”
That seems less likely as his slump intensifies.
Still, the Yankees rarely missed a beat, with little production from Wells and Aaron Judge, who preceded him in the order.
Up until Tuesday, the No. 3 and No. 4 batters in the lineup had combined for 4 hits in 35 at-bats, one extra-base hit, eight walks, and 14 strikeouts.
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Although Judge clearly wasn't going anywhere, Boone said he still had faith in Wells.
“I don't think he's been swinging as well as he should in recent weeks.” [well] He was there for two months, so oh he was there. [great]” Boone said of the rookie catcher. “But I also don't feel like he's that far away.”
Perhaps it was due to Rizzo's lack of power since returning from a fractured right forearm in early September, but he hit the ball hard in the ALCS.
That's something Wells hasn't done much lately, and the Yankees will almost certainly need more production from someone in the four-hole since they can't run around the AL Central division until they win a title. .
