DUNEDIN, Fla. – If you look closely, it looks like the Yankees are using a platoon in leftfield, as a change in the Blue Jays’ pitching plans put Clint Frazier back on the bench for Wednesday’s 5-4 loss at TD Ballpark.
After Frazier broke out of a 0-for-17 slump on Tuesday, he was out of the lineup after Toronto scratched right-handed Ross Stripling with a forearm injury and replaced him with TJ Zeuch.
While Zeuch is also a right-wing player, he is much more difficult in righthanded hitters than Stripling, so Aaron Boone went with Brett Gardner.
The manager said he “wanted another lefty there”.
But that comes after Frazier played both games this weekend in Tampa Bay against righthanders.
[Frazier] rake, and he’s going to rake, ”Boone said. “But we have a very good player [Gardner]also. “
Gardner was 0-for-3 with a walk.
The manager didn’t want to look too much at what could be seen as a platoon.
“Let’s judge these things more when we have a month or two of work,” said Boone, calling Wednesday’s game “unique” with Stripling’s late scratch.
He pointed out “really different skills” for Stripling and Zeuch.
“That’s more about that,” Boone said. “Briefly, [Gardner] will play a lot, whether he spots in the middle [or] starts on the left. I like the way he plays. They will both play a lot. [Frazier] will be a very good player for us this year. “
Gleyber Torres was back in the line-up on Wednesday after missing Tuesday’s game with a jammed right ring finger, which he suffered from diving back into first base on Monday.
Torres said the finger had improved, although he still felt “a little bit of pain.”
But Torres said he was able to find a way to grip the bat without putting much pressure on the finger.
Pitching coach Matt Blake said the Yankees are still deciding on a starting pitcher for Friday’s opener of a three-game run against the Rays at The Bronx, citing Deivi Garcia, Michael King, or a bullpen game. But Garcia threw a simulated game at the alternate venue on Wednesday and the Yankees’ bullpen has been charged for some early starts. King fired six shutout innings to relieve Domingo German in his lone appearance with the Yankees this season. Jordan Montgomery goes Saturday, Sunday with Gerrit Cole.