Sanchez out of lineup
Stanton could finally make his return to outfield Sunday
BOSTON — Gary Sanchez was not in the lineup Saturday after leaving Friday night’s game with back spasms. The Yankees catcher was on the field before Saturday’s game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park playing catch and running. Aaron Boone was hopeful he could be back in the lineup on Sunday.
“He’s doing a little bit better today,” the Yankees manager said, “he’s been getting a lot of treatment. We’ll get him to move around now in the weight room as well. And hopefully get him to where he’s back in play for us tomorrow. So a little bit of improvement, but still didn’t get a real good night’s sleep. It was pretty locked up still this morning, but he’s had a lot of good treatment and I would say doing better.”
Sanchez was working out on the field Saturday afternoon under the watchful eye of Eric Cressey, the Yankees’ director of player health and performance.
With Sanchez banged up and Kyle Higashioka on the COVID19 injured list, Rob Brantly, who struggled behind the plate in Thursday’s disastrous 10th inning, was starting at catcher.
Welcome back? Giancarlo Stanton may be in the outfield on Sunday. The Yankees were planning to get him back in the field at some point this season, especially with the Bombers heading into a National League park in Miami next weekend.
“Well, let’s get through today and see what we’re looking at for tomorrow. But yeah, that’s the way I’m leaning right now,” Boone said.
Stanton has not played in the field since the 2019 playoffs. The Yankees have relegated him to the designated hitter role exclusively for the last season and a half because of injury issues.
Gio back? Boone said it is possible that third baseman Gio Urshela, who returned to the team after quarantining with COVID-19 on Friday, could be activated and in the lineup again on Sunday. “Possibly. He took live hacks against [Luis Severino],” Boone said. “So that was good. And we’ll just see how he is at the end of the day today and hopefully be in a position to make that decision.”
Luis Severino threw 38 pitches to live hitters Saturday morning over two simulated innings. It is another step forward in his return from a groin injury that delayed his rehab from March 2020 Tommy John surgery. “I thought it was really good again,” Boone said, “thought he threw the ball well [and he] felt really good.”
Boone said they will see how he feels over the next few days and then decide on another bullpen session or a rehab game . ... Corey Kluber, who threw off a mound Friday, the first time since May, recovered well from that, Boone said.