For the second time this week, the Yankees have a late scratch from their lineup.
Less than an hour before first pitch on Friday, the Yanks announced that Giancarlo Stanton had been scratched from the starting lineup due to left quad tightness, and Gary Sanchez was moved into the designated hitter spot, with Kyle Higashioka behind the plate.
Stanton, who has struggled with injuries since being traded to the Yankees prior to the 2018 season, has managed to stay healthy in 2021 up to this point, playing in 33 games strictly as a DH. But giving the slugger a half day off each night has paid off, as Stanton’s nine home runs and 24 RBI both lead the team, while his .882 OPS trails only Aaron Judge.
After posting a red-hot 12-game stretch earlier this month, Stanton had cooled off of late, collecting just three hits in his last 22 at-bats.
Stanton’s news comes after Aaron Hicks was a late scratch earlier this week with a bruised shin, but right after he returned to the lineup, he was sidelined again, this time with a torn sheath in his left wrist. Third baseman Gio Urshela also has the night off with a sore knee, though Aaron Boone said Urshela is an option off the bench.
Boone told reporters on Friday that he would consider Stanton in the outfield while Hicks is out, but this latest news may change those plans.
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