The Yankees started Alex Verdugo in left field for Tuesday night’s loss to the Orioles, as Jasson Dominguez sat on the bench until a pinch-hit opportunity in the ninth.
The lineup decision sparked a tirade from some corners of the fanbase, but Keith says those frustrated fans need to get used to it, because it likely isn’t changing come October.
“You know they love to take a guy out of the lineup after he homers, and you know they love Alex Verdugo,” Keith said. “He’s gonna play.”
Verdugo has statistically been one of the worst hitters in baseball for months, and the Yanks publicly stated that Dominguez wouldn’t be called up until there was a lane for him to play every day. He has now sat four times since being called up earlier this month, and Keith isn’t holding out hope that it will change in the playoffs.
“They’re gonna play Verdugo in the postseason. Aaron Boone said on Talkin’ Yanks that they’re gonna use Clay Holmes in close games and tight spots in the postseason,” Keith said. “They die hard on their decisions.
“I’m ready to be devastated. I’m excited for the postseason…but we gotta be better than that. We’re too close. We’re too close for the nonsense and mistakes. It can’t be in their DNA.”