Yankees Update on Paul Goldschmidt and Jasson Domínguez
In a recent game against the Blue Jays, Paul Goldschmidt was only available in case of an emergency, as stated by Aaron Boone. He’s currently dealing with the aftermath of a low-grade right knee sprain that he sustained back on August 12th.
Initially, Goldschmidt managed to evade the injured list, but this injury kept him out of the three-game lineup. Recent tests on his knee have been conducted, yet Boone indicated that the Yankees don’t consider his injury to be serious.
That said, it’s been a bit of a struggle for the 37-year-old. He seemed hesitant at the plate, likely due to concerns about his knees. Since returning, he’s only managed four extra-base hits—each of them doubles—in his 15 games.
Even though the Yankees were looking to utilize more left-handed hitters against Toronto’s right-handed Chris Bassitt on Saturday, Goldschmidt has a solid track record against him, going 4-for-4 with doubles and home runs in previous encounters.
With Goldschmidt sidelined, Ben Rice took the starting position, going 4-for-4 with singles. Crucially, Goldschmidt wasn’t called upon to pinch hit or provide defensive support later in the game.
On another note, Jasson Domínguez made his first start of the week, fulfilling a role in the lineup on Saturday. Boone highlighted Domínguez’s past successes against Bassitt, noting that his record stood at 11-for-7, although he had been somewhat overlooked prior to Saturday’s game.
Finding more playing time for Domínguez is uncertain. The Yankees’ outfield situation is already complicated, especially with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton managing flexor tension in their right elbows, which will likely lead to sharing their duties moving forward.
Domínguez contributed an RBI single against Bassitt in the second inning and later walked and scored in the sixth. He was then substituted for defensive purposes in the seventh inning.
His switch-hitting remains strong from the left side, though the presence of left-handed hitters like Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham complicates things. With Austin Slater returning from a hamstring issue, the outfield situation becomes even more crowded, even as he provides defensive strength and performs well against left-handers.
Despite limited playing time, Boone expressed that Domínguez would still play a role as the season progresses. “He had a really good year and did a lot, but his role may shift given our outfield circumstances,” Boone remarked. “Things can change quickly.”
Meanwhile, Cam Schlittler, who started strong in his MLB career, faced a setback in a loss to Toronto on Friday, allowing four runs in two innings. However, both he and Boone felt confident in his abilities after expressing some minor adjustments needed for facing the tough Toronto lineup.
“He struggled to finish his pitches, but he was aggressive,” pitching coach Matt Blake noted about Schlittler’s recent approach. “He handled it well, and although the Blue Jays are a formidable opponent, it’s clear he can rebound from this.”
The Yankees held a moment of silence before their game honoring Davy Johnson, who passed away at the age of 82. Johnson was known for managing the Mets and had faced the Yankees multiple times during his tenure with Baltimore.
