New York Post

Boone is expecting Yanks, Mets to play

- By GEORGE A. KING III

According to Aaron Boone and player rep Zack Britton, the Yankees haven’t had a chance to talk about the possibilit­y of not playing Friday night’s doublehead­er against the Mets at Yankee Stadium to raise awareness of social injustice.

Boone said the needed work between games of Wednesday’s double-header took up the team’s time.

“We didn’t have a chance to discuss it between games,’’ Boone said Thursday, which was a day off, on WFAN. “We have not talked certainly as a team.’’

Asked if there was a possibilit­y of the Subway Series games being postponed, Boone said that wasn’t his expectatio­n.

“I am not expecting that, but again when we get together as a team and have those discussion­s as a team and see where we are 16 hours from now, have a better lay of the land,’’ Boone said. “And hopefully get a better lay of the land from all the people in our organizati­on.’’

While the big-league club hasn’t had a chance to discuss the issue, two Yankee minor leaguers offered their thoughts on Twitter regarding the organizati­on’s support.

“Really need my team to make a statement. You have guys in your organizati­on that needs to see that you are with us and not about the money!!! Don’t stay silent !!!!! #BLM,’’ tweeted minor league infielder Chris Gittens, who was invited to spring training this year.

Outfielder Canaan SmithNjigb­a tweeted “@Yankees be with us.”

Boone said he will donate money to the Players Alliance.

“I think the Players Alliance has done a lot of great things in short order,’’ Boone said.

Boone and MLB players will donate their salaries Thursday and Friday to fight racial inequality.

➤ Jordan Montgomery will start one of the two games against the Mets on Friday. J.A.

Happ will start Saturday. That leaves three games — one for Friday and two for Sunday — for Boone and pitching coach Matt Blake to find a starter.

Wednesday in Atlanta, the Yankees were undecided about who would start those three games. Because Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka started in Wednesday’s doublehead­er, they aren’t available. They will be lined up to start the first two games of a three-game showdown series against the AL East-leading Rays beginning Monday in The Bronx.

There has been talk that Deivi Garcia and/or Clarke Schmidt could be elevated from the alternate site in Scranton to start or work in relief during the weekend. Garcia is on the 40-man roster; Schmidt is not.

While Boone didn’t completely rule out Schmidt, the Yankees top pitching prospect, he painted a picture where it might not happen.

“I wouldn’t expect it,’’ Boone said. “These are things that we evaluate day by day. We will see where we are at after Saturday when we have to make a decision.’’

Boone said Mike King will “probably pitch one of those games Sunday.’’

Jonathan Loaisiga is also a candidate to surface at some point during the weekend.

For the doublehead­ers on Friday and Sunday, the Yankees will get to add a player or pitcher to the roster which will go from 28 to 29. Right-hander Albert Abreu was the extra arm for the twin bill in Atlanta on Wednesday. Boone said King could be an option later in the weekend.

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