Yanks still gunning for top-four seed despite no fans, neutral sites

BOSTON — There may be no Bleacher Creatures or famous Bronxcheersthis season. Thecoronavirus pandemic has wiped out fans watching baseball in the Bronx for 2020. Still, manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees will push onthis road trip to winthat top four seed that wouldgive themachance to play the first roundoftheplayoffs at Yankee Stadium.

“We certainly want to play at home where we feel like we have a home field advantage. Obviously, it is a little bit different, because of the (lack of a) crowd, but I think in alot of waysteamsarebuilt for their home ballparks,” Boone said. “And, hopefully, you know if we have a good final few games here we can put ourselves in a position to be home for that series.”

The Yankees went into Friday night’s three-game series opener against the Red Sox at Fenway in the fifth AL playoff spot. That wouldhavethemplayingtheTwins in Minneapolis in the first round of the playoffs. They were two wins behindtheTwinsinthewincolumn and 3.5 games back of the Rays for the ALEasttitle andtop-three seeding that goes with it.

Butthere will benofans to intimidate the opponent or provide energy, and the Yankees will have to stay in a hotel even in New York to maintain the coronavirus bubble for the playoffs. Sowhatisreally the advantage —aside from the short porch in right field? “I mean, it’s home,” Boone said. “It’s our clubhouse and facility and video room and(batting) cage andweightroom setup, and you know where to go to eat now with all the protocols that yougothroughinthisenvironment. It’s certainly something that I think provides a little bit of comforts of home.

“Whatever advantage there is to that, how do you really know? But there is some comfort level.”

Still, theYankeeswillrealign their rotation to make sure they have Gerrit Cole for Game 1 and likely Masahiro Tanaka for Game2of the first round, so their pushing for a higher seed will have its limits.

And the Yankees have to like the prospect of facing the Twins in the playoffs, having beaten them in 13 straight playoff games. That includes sweepingthemlastseason.

Judge, Stanton back in lineup: The Yankees had their two giant sluggers, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, back in the lineup together Friday night for the first time since Aug. 8at TampaBay. Boone had Judge hitting in the No. 2 spot, where Luke Voit hit during the majority of that time, and Stanton hitting third. It wasthefirsttime this season Stanton had not hit in the cleanup spot.

Boonesaidthatcouldchange, but wantedtotakeadvantageofFriday’s matchupagainstlefty MartinPerez. Stantonis acareer .394hitter against lefties with 84 of his career 312 home runs off southpaws.

“It could change a little bit, but with the lefty tonight I felt like it made some sense, having a righty-dominant lineup and with Aaron (Hicks) as a switch hitter,”

Boone said. “Just felt like especially with how Giancarlo is against lefties to movehimupaspot. I thought there was some value in that. So, I may go back to a little more traditional onewhenwefacearighty, but it is something that we can tinker with here, the final days.”

But don’t expect Boone to move Judge out of the No. 2 spot anytime soon. Hehasbeenaskedrepeatedly about letting Voit, who stepped into the No. 2 spot when Judge went down with a right calf strain, continue to hit second. Boone has repeatedly said he plans on using the return of Judgeto expandVoit’s role.

“No, I’ll have Aaron there and then probably move Luke down to four and (Stanton) at five or vice versa,” Boone explained Thursday night. “I really like Luke coming up behind guys that are going to be on a ton and DJ (LeMahieu). Aaron (Hicks) and Aaron Judge are all (on base frequently).”

Voit has started 28 games in the No. 2 spot this season and hit 13 of his 20 homers there.