Ben Rice took early swings on Sunday and said he was feeling “good.” According to Greg Joyce, while his status remained uncertain, the Yankees didn’t rule out the possibility of him being available off the bench Monday night.
The New York Yankees are currently riding one of their hottest stretches of the season. After taking three out of four games against the Rays in Tampa — nearly sweeping the series if not for Devin Williams’ rough ninth inning — they’ve now won six of their last seven and head to Cleveland full of confidence.
Outfield shuffle with Trent Grisham on paternity leave
With Trent Grisham away on paternity leave, manager Aaron Boone had to shuffle the outfield. Pablo Reyes is set to start in right field — a surprising move, but one earned after a solid spring training. Known more for his versatility than his bat, Reyes has Boone’s trust to get the job done.
Jasson Domínguez remains in left field, continuing to prove he’s more than just a top prospect. Cody Bellinger will slide over to center in Grisham’s absence. It’s a makeshift setup, but Boone is counting on it to hold while the team stays hot.
Aaron Judge stays at DH as Yankees manage workload
Aaron Judge will serve as designated hitter for the second straight game as the Yankees continue to manage his workload during a demanding stretch of the season.
Ben Rice, who was hit on the elbow by a slider during Saturday’s game in Tampa, remains out of the lineup. X-rays and a CT scan came back clean, and Aaron Boone said Rice is “feeling much better” despite some lingering pain. There’s hope he could return during the Cleveland series.
“He’s in good spirits,” Boone said before Sunday’s 4-0 win. “The imaging gave him peace of mind. He was really sore Saturday and still is a bit today, but he had a smile on his face. We’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
Rice was still dealing with swelling Sunday morning and received treatment to speed up recovery. Boone held him out of Sunday’s game but is optimistic about a quick return.
“We’re hoping it won’t be too long,” Boone added.
Unconventional lineup delivers results
Boone’s Sunday lineup raised eyebrows. Austin Wells led off, followed by Judge and Bellinger. Paul Goldschmidt, who has been having a strong season, hit cleanup with Jazz Chisholm Jr. batting fifth.
Anthony Volpe, Dominguez, Reyes, and Oswaldo Cabrera rounded out the order. It wasn’t the typical setup, but it reflected Boone’s strategy to balance rest and performance as the Yankees ride their recent surge.
Boone also reiterated his confidence in closer Devin Williams, who gave up four runs in Saturday’s ninth inning. Williams owns a 9.00 ERA through his first nine appearances as a Yankee.
“He’s really good,” Boone said. “I know [Saturday] was tough, but it wasn’t like he got shelled. I get the frustration — that was a hard loss — but he’s got elite stuff. He’ll bounce back. We just need to get him in the right spots. It’s a long season, and we need him to be a key piece.”
Clayton Beeter sharp in rehab start
Right-hander Clayton Beeter began a rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Tampa and impressed in his return from a shoulder injury. He retired all four batters he faced, with his fastball sitting between 95 and 98 mph.
“Reports were encouraging,” Boone said. “The velocity was right where we want it, and he could definitely be a factor for us this year.”
The Yankees open a three-game set in Cleveland on Monday, aiming to keep their momentum going and stay aggressive in the American League race.
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