Isiah Kiner-Falefa is back in the Yankees’ starting lineup for Wednesday’s ALCS opener, and Aaron Boone believes the Yanks at their best includes a solid Kiner-Falefa at shortstop.
“Giancarlo being in the outfield, so Carp is the DH, and just felt like more of a righty lineup against Verlander is kind of the way I wanted to go,” Boone said of the decision. “He’s great against both hands, but he’s really tough against the lefty.
“I feel like Isiah, when he’s playing at his best, is a guy who is really tough with runners in scoring position down at the bottom of the lineup, and when he’s playing well defensively, has a real impact. For us to be at our best, we have to get him rolling in this as well.”
Kiner-Falefa, not much of an offensive contributor all season despite his ability to avoid the strikeout, struggled defensively down the stretch and early in the ALDS, prompting Boone to bench him and move the versatile rookie Oswaldo Cabrera from left field to shortstop. Some wondered if Oswald Peraza’s inclusion on the ALCS roster meant he would get a chance at shortstop, but for now, it’s Kiner-Falefa.
“It will be an everyday decision,” Boone said. “We have Peraza and obviously have Cabrera who can play short, so it’ll be kind of matchup and game to game, but I feel like Izzy is gonna play a big role for us.”
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