Giancarlo Stanton’s Absence Looms for Yankees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t exactly in peak form when he went on injured reserve last month.
The experienced DH played in 24 games, hitting just three home runs, with a 102 OPS+ (100 is considered average) and 14 RBIs.
However, his absence is significant for the Yankees. Opponents find it easier to face the team without a key left-handed power hitter in the lineup, which, I think, poses a challenge they wouldn’t otherwise have.
“That’s huge,” manager Aaron Boone expressed prior to the Yankees’ series opener against the struggling Athletics. “Especially on nights we’re up against right-handed pitchers. His presence really matters. They now have a slight edge.”
Stanton has recently been cleared to run outside after an MRI showed improvement in his right calf, marking a step forward in his recovery.
At 36, he’s been focusing on hitting, which could speed up his return. Yet, he still needs to refine his baserunning before stepping back onto the field.
If history is anything to go by, he might not need to go through rehab just because he’s sidelined. Boone mentioned live batting practice, which could take place next week, as potentially sufficient for his road back.
It seems it’ll still be another week or two before Stanton is activated, though.
During his absence, with Anthony Volpe and Jose Caballero entering the roster, the Yankees found themselves relying on only two right-handed hitters—Aaron Judge and either Caballero or Volpe—when facing right-handed pitchers.
That wasn’t too problematic against a starting pitcher. But once that pitcher left, having a squad loaded with left-handed pitchers was a clear advantage for the opposing teams.
Boone generally prefers to position his right-handed hitters in a mix—either No. 2, 5, and 8 or No. 3, 6, and 9—ensuring at least one righty faces any incoming left-handed pitcher. With Stanton out, having just two right-handed hitters in the lineup (like Judge and Caballero) might push opposing teams to match left-handed pitchers against them more frequently. It’s sort of a game of chess, really.
The rise of switch hitter Jason Dominguez brought some breathing room during Stanton’s absence, especially given his improving ability to hit left-handed. Unfortunately, on May 7, he sprained his AC joint, so now he’s also ramping up his activities and might start hitting against pitches in practice soon.
Following the Yankees’ decision to send left-handed hitter Spencer Jones to Triple-A to make way for Caballero, Goldschmidt held down first base, with Ben Rice taking the DH spot. Although facing left-handed pitchers only happened in two of those games, Goldschmidt’s presence as a right-handed batter somewhat serves as a stand-in for what Stanton typically brings.
“It’s huge,” Boone reiterated. “It gives us a bit of balance in our order. What he does against those lefties is significant, especially in the role we need him for. He’s been performing well, and we could certainly use that right now.”
