Holliday plans change
Matt may not make playoff roster
Not being a regular player hasn’t been part of Matt Holliday’s career until this season when illness and injury led to diminished playing time in the final month.
“I do what I can to stay sharp timing-wise the best I can,’’ Holliday said of his work program when not in the lineup as he wasn’t for Wednesday night’s 6-1 win over the Rays at Yankee Stadium. “Turn up the [pitching] machine velocity. Other than that there isn’t much more that I can do at this point.’’
In 15 September games (14 starts), Holliday hasn’t started more than three straight games and Wednesday was the third time in five games the DH wasn’t in the lineup.
Asked if it was tougher mentally or physically to not be in the lineup regularly, Holliday put the Yankees ahead of his situation.
“We are trying to do something as a team,’’ Holliday said. “When I am in there I am trying to get good at-bats and contribute.’’
Signed to a one-year deal for $13 million last winter the 37-year-old Holliday had 47 RBIs on June 21. Seven days later, he was placed on the DL with the Epstein-Barr virus. He returned July 14 and hit a homer off Craig Kimbrel in Fenway Park. Holliday returned to the DL on Aug. 6 with a strained lower back that kept him out until the rosters expanded Sept. 1.
Since Sept. 2, Holliday has played in 15 games, gone 13for-54 (.241) with two homers, 12 RBIs and a .719 OPS. For the season, Holliday is batting .231 with 18 homers, 63 RBIs and a .745 OPS.
With Chase Headley and possibly Aaron Judge as postseason DH options, Holliday’s roster spot could be in jeopardy.
➤ The Yankees would rather talk about almost anything else but what their postseason roster will look like, but little-used infielder
Tyler Wade is a possibility to be on it.
“That is someone’s name that will be kicked around,’’ Girardi said of Wade, who would fill the need for a pinch runner.
Wade, an above average runner, has appeared in 29 games this season and is hitting .145 (8-for-55). ➤ The Twins Miguel
Sano hasn’t played since Aug. 19 because of a stress reaction in the left shin but he took 60 batting-practice swings Wednesday and hasn’t been ruled out of playing in Tuesday’s wild-card game against the Yankees.
➤ Ronald Torreyes isn’t going to get MVP votes like Judge, Didi Gregorius and
Gary Sanchez are, but according to Girardi, the pintsized utility infielder has had a major impact on the Yankees qualifying for the AL wild-card spot.
“He has had an incredible year, and there is no way we are here today if not for him,’’ Girardi said of the 5foot-7 right-handed hitter who is batting .296 (92-for311) in 107 games.