Gary Sanchez is not in Saturday’s lineup for the Yankees, after the catcher left Friday’s game with back spasms.
Aaron Boone told reporters that Sanchez is an option in an emergency situation on Saturday in a pivotal game against the Red Sox, but Rob Brantly will get the start behind the plate.
“Doing a little bit better today,” Boone said of Sanchez. “He’s been getting a lot of treatment today, getting to move around in the weight room as well. Hopefully get him to where he’s back in play for us [Sunday], so a little bit of improvement, but still didn’t get a good night’s sleep and was pretty locked up still this morning.”
The Yankee lineup is stretched thin due to the absences of Aaron Judge, Luke Voit, Gio Urshela and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka, and the absence of Sanchez only further depletes the team’s starting nine. But offensive reinforcements are on the way, as Boone hopes both Sanchez and Urshela will be available for Sunday’s series finale at Fenway Park.
“He took live hacks against Sevy…that was good,” Boone said of Urshela, who is set to come off the COVID-19 list after rejoining the team on Friday. We’ll just see how he is at the end of the day and hopefully be in a position to make that decision.”
Urshela was swinging against Luis Severino, who threw a live BP on Saturday and once again came out of it feeling healthy. The righty will now potentially throw another live session or go back on a rehab assignment after his last one was cut short due to a groin strain.
“I thought it was really good again,” Boone said. “Thought he threw the ball well, felt really good…he threw two innings and 38 pitches, so we’ll see how tomorrow and the next day and his bullpen looks, and decide whether he want to do another live three-inning session or start him in a rehab game. We’ll make that call as these next couple days unfold and see how he responds and bounces back.”
Boone had also been saying that Giancarlo Stanton would likely get a start in the outfield during the Boston series to prepare him for interleague play, and the plan is to have him in the field on Sunday if all goes well Saturday, which is no guarantee given the injuries that have hit the Yanks in recent weeks.
“Potentially,” Boone said of Stanton playing the field for the first time since 2019. “We’ll see. Let’s get through today and see what we’re looking at tomorrow, but that’s the way I’m leaning tomorrow.”
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