The Yankees, on Tuesday, played their second game without Giancarlo Stanton since the slugger went down with a Grade 2 hamstring strain that manager Aaron Boone hopes will only keep him out for six weeks.
They also played their second straight game with Anthony Volpe batting leadoff and DJ LeMahieu hitting fifth.
That order could become more of the norm while Stanton is out.
The Yankees now need LeMahieu’s bat in the middle of the lineup more than in his regular spot at leadoff.
“That’s certainly possible,” Boone said Tuesday before the Yankees’ 5-2 loss tot he Angels. “It’s that way again today and we’ll see moving forward. I potentially like that.”
Volpe, who went 0-for-3 with two walks and an RBI, is batting only .180 through his first 17 games as a big leaguer, his advanced approach at the plate and his knack for stealing bases make him an intriguing option at the leadoff spot.
“His DNA is control the strike zone,” Boone said. “I think when he really gets rolling, you’re going to see that at a really high level. I think even these first couple weeks when he hasn’t been on fire yet, you still see that in there, his ability to lay off pitches. So I think he’s cut out for that. Obviously you add the speed mix to it, but yeah, I think he has it all in there. Whether he’s hitting ninth or hitting first, I think the heartbeat, between the ears, he’s equipped to handle it all.”
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Oswald Peraza made his season debut Tuesday, starting at second base and batting sixth.
Still, Peraza’s stay in The Bronx is likely to be a short one.
He was called up on Sunday when Stanton landed on the IL and is expected to return to Triple-A as soon as Wednesday when Josh Donaldson (hamstring strain) comes off the IL.
“Oswald can play in the middle of the diamond,” Boone said. “He’s got great defensive skills there. Played a number of games [at second base] this spring, flipping him and Anthony back and forth there throughout. He’s played it enough, and played it last year enough, that I feel very comfortable with him out there. Excited to see him get in there for us tonight.”
Donaldson, meanwhile, started a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset. Boone said he might only need one game before he returns to the Yankees on Wednesday.
Harrison Bader (strained oblique) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment on Friday, after facing Luis Severino during a live batting practice session on Thursday.
“He’s doing really well and he’s been full bore now these last couple days,” Boone said.
Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow inflammation) could start a throwing program by the end of the week.