Daily News | Gary Phillips: Despite Anthony Volpe being cleared to return to play, manager Aaron Boone penciled José Caballero’s name in at shortstop for the fifth straight game Sunday. Volpe, who has been the Yankees’ starter at the position for the past three seasons, recently received a cortisone shot for his partially torn shoulder labrum, an injury which has nagged him for much of the season. Boone demurred when asked how he’ll split time at shortstop going forward. “I don’t know,” he told the press
before Sunday’s game. “Do what’s best every day.”
It’s been a difficult season for Volpe, who has a .661 OPS and an 81 wRC+ alongside 19 errors on the year. GM Brian Cashman affirmed the club’s commitment to the 24-year-old at shortstop going forward, saying that Volpe is “someone that we can count on and we believe in” while acknowledging his struggles this year. Boone also took the opportunity to praise Caballero, who he called “a really good player,” explaining that he’s earned expanded opportunities.
New York Post | Dan Martin: Jazz Chisholm Jr. once again called the Yankees “the best team in the league” after their defeat of Boston on Saturday, a game in which the second baseman notched three hits, including his 29th home run of the year. Since he’s already swiped 30 bags, one more long ball will give Chisholm his first career 30-30 season and the first such campaign from a Yankee since Alfonso Soriano’s 2003 season.
As his manager notes, the 27-year-old’s numbers would be inflated further if not for injury issues that temporarily derailed his season. “He missed a month and then a month when he came back, he was still dealing with the foot, so wasn’t stealing,” Aaron Boone noted. “That’s almost two months of play when he wasn’t stealing bases and a month he wasn’t in the lineup.” Chisholm’s big day also adds to a season-long trend that will endear him to Yankees fans everywhere, as the two-time All-Star has a 1.066 OPS in 11 games against the Red Sox this season.
Daily News | Gary Phillips: After a critical 5-3 victory over Boston Saturday, the Yankees’ clubhouse was buzzing about a nine-pitch at-bat between fellow lefties Cody Bellinger and Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning that resulted in an RBI double, adding a key insurance run late in the game. “It’s been impressive what he’s done against lefties,” Aaron Boone said, emphasizing a season-long trend for the veteran, who has a 1.031 OPS against southpaws. “That was sick,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. added in typically emphatic fashion.
The Yankees’ starting pitcher Saturday offered an analysis of what makes Bellinger such a tough out. “He can shorten up and go the other way, or he can take you deep pull side,” Max Fried said. “He’s two different types of hitters, and you just gotta make pitches and hope he gets himself out.” For his part, when asked about Bellinger’s future in New York given his likely free agency this offseason, GM Brian Cashman declined to comment but concurred on the outfielder’s impact, trumpeting that “he’s a hell of a player on both sides of the ball.”
New York Post | Greg Joyce: Max Fried delivered a much-needed victory Saturday, pitching around nine hits and two walks to hold the Red Sox to two runs over 5.2 innings. He also dialed up his velocity, recording two separate strikeouts on 99 mph fastballs in the early going. “Feeling good physically and also adrenaline,” the starter said by way of explanation for the uptick in heat. “Big crowd, big game, so had a lot of adrenaline and tried to use it as best I could.” Aaron Boone recognized the difference in his ace’s pitches as well. “I thought his stuff was really good,” he said after the game. “He’s 97-98 typically when he steps on a four-seam. Today he was 98-99. Fenway in September will do that to you.”
The Sporting News | Matt Sullivan: Congratulations are in order for former Yankee Robinson Cano, who recorded his 4,000th hit as a professional on Saturday with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico. That number adds his 2,639 hits in MLB with those accumulated in the minor leagues, Dominican winter ball, and the Mexican League. The 42-year-old is tearing it up in Mexico this season, hitting .372 with a .999 OPS through 86 games. Cano is the 22nd player in baseball history to record 4,000 pro hits, with Pete Rose the all-time leader with 4,909 hits.
