Rizzo benched amid hitting slump, Yankees leave Soto out for Dodgers clash

New York Yankees stars Juan Soto and Anthony Rizzo missed the starting lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night.

What’s next for Anthony Rizzo?

Anthony Rizzo‘s benching is notable, marking his first since August 2023. This move comes amid his struggles at the plate in 2024. Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone says Rizzo may be available for Monday’s game against the Royals

Yankees outline recovery plan for Juan Soto

On the other hand, Juan Soto finds himself sidelined due to left forearm inflammation, resulting in his absence from the first two games of the weekend series, both of which ended in victories for the Dodgers: 2-1 in 11 innings on Friday and 11-3 on Saturday.

Be that as it may, Aaron Boone has indicated that Juan Soto is slated to undergo a complete pregame routine this Sunday and may be accessible as a bench option. The Yankees are optimistic about his return, targeting the Kansas City series for his comeback.

Since Soto’s departure during Thursday night’s 8-5 victory over Minnesota, the Yankees’ offense has struggled, managing only four runs over 23 innings. Three of those runs came from Aaron Judge, who hit two solo home runs on Saturday and contributed an RBI single in the 11th inning of Friday’s game.

During the initial two losses to the Dodgers, the Yankees‘ batting average was a mere .200 (15 for 75), with an even more dismal .067 (1 for 15) when hitting with runners in scoring position.

Soto, a key acquisition from San Diego in December, has been a standout performer this season, boasting a .318 batting average, 17 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a 1.027 OPS. The 25-year-old outfielder is set to become a free agent following the World Series.

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