Giancarlo Stanton has never been a burner, yet his slow jog home in Saturday’s game still drew some questions and criticism.
The slugger had a hard time getting to the plate in the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Astros in the third inning. With the game tied, 1-1, and DJ LeMahieu up with two outs, Stanton tried scoring from second base on a single toward the right-center field gap. Third base coach Luis Rojas sent the trotting Stanton home, and he was thrown out by more than a few feet.
After the game, Boone said that Stanton, who has been plagued by lower body injuries over the years, is healthy.
“Yeah, G’s good,” Boone said Saturday. “I just didn’t think he got a great round on third and got a little careful over there. Look, ball, two outs, hit in the gap like that, you got to take your chances.”
With Stanton batting fourth and playing right field on Sunday, Boone answered more questions about the player, whose sprint speed was in the 70th percentile in 2018, his first year with the Yankees.
Stanton’s sprint speed is now in the fourth percentile, the same as it was last season.
“G’s sometimes better when he’s going in a straight line, and sometimes if he gets his steps not timed up right, he gets himself into a tough spot,” Boone said Sunday. “So it wasn’t a great look, but nothing other than him just making sure he doesn’t put himself in a dangerous position with the amount of things he’s had lower body-wise throughout the last several years.”
Stanton and the Yankees would rather have him around to hit home runs for the rest of the season than risk injury on one particular play, especially one that involves his legs. On April 15, Stanton hurt his hamstring running out a double. He didn’t return until June 2.
Boone said that Stanton takes it upon himself to be careful and to get himself in a “comfortable position.” The manager added that he believes Stanton does have a “fear of putting himself in a bad spot.”
“It’s just him trying to preserve himself,” Boone said. “I think he’s in a good place physically, but I think in the back of his mind, there is always that concern because he’s had calves and hammies and quads and knows he’s tightly wound. He just tries to make sure he’s in a gait that’s not stressing his body.”
The Yankees were waiting to see how Sunday played out before making any final decisions, but the plan is for Jonathan Loáisiga to rejoin the team on Monday in Chicago now that the righty is recovered from surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow.
“Very happy with the opportunity that God has given me here to be able to come back,” Loáisiga told the Daily News. “It’s been some time since I’ve pitched in the big leagues. So to have the opportunity around the corner, it’s very exciting. The goal is to stay healthy and finish the season strong.”
Loáisiga hasn’t pitched in the majors since April 5, but he’s coming off three rehab outings.
Boone, excited to have Loáisiga back, said the reliever could close and pitch multiple innings if needed. That’s in addition to the typical late-inning, high-leverage work Loáisiga has performed throughout his career.
“I feel like we got a number of guys down there throwing the ball really well,” Boone said. “You add Lo to that mix, it hopefully makes them even better. Because then you even have another guy that you can lean on in big spots.”
Indeed, the Yankees’ bullpen has been sharp without Loáisiga, something he’s well aware of. Entering Sunday’s series finale against the Astros, the group had the lowest ERA (3.03) in the majors despite losing multiple key components to injuries this season.
“I mean, I don’t have to add much to it,” Loáisiga said. “When you look at these guys and the job that they’ve done, clearly the best bullpen in the big leagues. So amazing job by all those guys.
“They’ve done amazing work.”
Boone said there is still no decision on Luis Severino’s next turn through the rotation. His next start is scheduled for Wednesday, but how the next few days play out could factor into what the Yankees do with the struggling righty.
Severino has a 7.74 ERA over 13 starts after allowing five earned runs and two homers over four innings on Friday. Keeping him in the rotation has felt untenable for a bit now, but the Yankees have given him multiple opportunities to correct course.
Anthony Rizzo (post-concussion syndrome) won’t travel to Chicago with the Yankees this week, but he told the News that he is able to fly with the team as he recovers. The Yankees head to Miami after Chicago. Rizzo, who grew up in nearby Parkland, Florida, said his travel plans for that trip are still up in the air.
While he’s able to get on planes, Rizzo added that he’ll spend most of his rehab in New York.
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