Daily News | Gary Phillips: After telling the press on Saturday that he didn’t plan on playing Giancarlo Stanton in the field during this week’s series in Houston, Yankees manager Aaron Boone reversed course Tuesday, penciling the 35-year-old’s name into the lineup in left field for the first tilt of the three-game set. It’s Stanton’s first start in left since September 14th, 2023. That appearance came at Boston’s Fenway Park which, like Houston’s Daikin Park, has a small left field that better accommodates
the veteran’s limited range. The appearance in the field was Stanton’s 15th this year after making none in 2024, a turnaround brought about by an injury that has forced Aaron Judge to the DH spot while Stanton has been enjoying one of the hottest stretches of his career at the plate. On the year, Stanton was slashing .295/.374/.624 in 55 games entering play Tuesday.
NorthJersey.com | Pete Caldera: The Yankees remain unsure when the domino that would allow Stanton to return to DH full-time will drop. Of Judge’s likelihood of playing the field again this season, Boone relayed, “We absolutely feel like he’s going to be back out there,” telling reporters, “I keep saying it’s soon and I wholeheartedly feel that way right now.” Still, he conceded he remained unsure of when Judge would be healed enough from his right flexor strain to man his familiar perch in right, forcing the Yankees to choose between playing the defensively limited Stanton in the outfield and keeping his red-hot bat on the bench. Barring a setback, Austin Slater is also expected to be activated from the IL as early as Friday, providing another outfield option down the stretch.
SNY | Alex Smith: Cody Bellinger was named American League Player of the Week Tuesday in recognition of his exploits from August 25th-31st. The Yankees outfielder went 12-for-17 during that span with five extra-base hits and eight RBI. The hot week, which mostly overlapped with a recent seven-game win streak for the Bombers, brought the veteran’s slash line to .279/.333/.504 on the season, his first in pinstripes.
