Yankees reinforce squad ahead of Los Angeles Dodgers clash this weekend

Thursday June 1, 2023

Stanton, Donaldson, and Kahnle return from the injured list, promising a powerful lineup for the impending series.

As the New York Yankees gear up for their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, they’re bolstering their lineup with the return of Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle from the injured list.

In what is undoubtedly promising news for the Yankees’ fans, the team tweeted the ensuing roster adjustments:

Post yesterday’s game, INF/OF Oswaldo Cabrera, INF/OF Franchy Cordero, and LHP Matt Krook have been sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

This is a significant boost for the Yankees who have navigated a large part of the season with an understrength team.

Stanton, who’s been sidelined with a left hamstring strain since mid-April, is now fit to play after a successful Double-A rehab stint. The five-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, home run derby champion, and 2017 NL MVP, boasts a career batting average of .264 with 382 home runs. Alongside Aaron Judge, Stanton forms a formidable home run partnership in the game. He started this season hitting .269 with four home runs.

Donaldson, also recovering from a hamstring issue since early April, is in his second season with the Yankees after being traded from the Minnesota Twins last year. The 37-year-old, a .264 career hitter with a .361 on-base percentage, had a batting average of .222 last year in 132 games. He’s a former MVP (2015 with Toronto), three-time All-Star, and a two-time Silver Slugger award recipient. Currently, in his contract’s final year, a four-year, $92 million deal he signed with the Minnesota Twins before the 2020 season, he’s hit .125 in his 16 at-bats this season.

The 33-year-old Kahnle, who’s been out with bicep problems and hasn’t pitched this season, also makes a return. He missed all of 2021 and most of last season while recuperating from Tommy John surgery. Having debuted in the major league with the Rockies in 2014, Kahnle has pitched for the Chicago White Sox and had a productive stint with the Yankees from 2017-2019 before playing for the Dodgers in 2022 for 13 games.

The Yankees versus Dodgers series will commence on Friday at 10:10 p.m. ET, with Luis Severino pitching for New York and Clayton Kershaw for Los Angeles.