Boone sticking with Betances
TORONTO — It doesn’t sound like Aaron Boone has lost any faith in Dellin Betances, even after his dismal outings on Thursday and Saturday. “I spoke with him after the game yesterday. I was really pleased with where I thought he was yesterday. I think he’ll be fine,” Boone said before Sunday’s game, noting he liked where Betances is with his delivery.
“Are there things that he needs to be more alert of and aware of? Certainly we’ll continue to work with him on those things, but I think for us to be the best that we can be I think it’s important that Dellin is a big part of that. That means being back in some highleverage spots.”
WEATHER OR NOT
The Yankees are headed back to The Big Apple, where Mother Nature could throw a wrench into Monday’s home-opener. The forecast calls for an overnight combo of rain and snow, and more snow in the morning, according to weather.com.
“That’s out of my hands, man,” said Boone, who will be managing his first game at Yankee Stadium. “It looks like it stops snowing at 10. I’m not that concerned about it. I hope we play.”
Giancarlo Stanton will also be playing his first game at home.
“It’s going to be chilly, but I’m looking forward to it,” said Aaron Judge, who will have his Judge’s Chambers again in the right-field stands. “It’ll be good to be home, see our fans and feel the excitement they’ve got for this team.”
Jordan Montgomery will make the start.
“It just kind of fell on me. I kind of got lucky and ran into it,” Montgomery said. “I’m just going to do my best.”
Joked Montgomery: “I’ve thrown in the cold before. I guess that’s why they put us in Trenton and Scranton at the beginning of the year. I’m ready for it.”
Montgomery said he pitched in hail during his high school days in South Carolina.
“Weird,” he said. “It was freezing.”
INJURY REPORT
The Yankees hope they’ve avoided a DL situation with Adam Warren (right ankle contusion) after he was struck with a comebacker on Saturday. Warren was slated to play catch before Sunday’s game.
Billy McKinney was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left shoulder strain. McKinney checked out fine on the potential concussion front.
Miguel Andujar was promoted from Triple-A Scranton. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as the DH on Sunday. Andujar will also be a candidate to play first and third while he’s with the team.
Clint Frazier (concussion) tweeted “soon” on Sunday, probably in reference to him nearly being ready to play in minorleague rehab games.
OUTFIELD ALIGNMENT
Stanton caught the only fly ball hit to him in his first MLB start in left field on Sunday. Brett Gardner was in center and Judge was in right. Boone said there’s a “good chance” fans will see that same configuration on Monday.
Stanton could see more time in left this first week than expected, though Boone also said he’s weighing just how valuable Gardner is in the tough left field at Yankee Stadium versus sticking Judge in center again.
Because of injuries to McKinney, Frazier, Aaron Hicks and Jacoby Ellsbury, Tyler Wade and Ronald Torreyes took some reps in center before Sunday’s game. Wade is the most likely candidate to get that nod, Boone has said. Ellsbury (oblique) is eligible to come off the DL on Thursday.