Notes: Higgy-Cole pairing; Voit 'ready to roll'

Despite having an opportunity to rest his legs during the Yankees’ scheduled off-day on Monday, catcher Gary Sanchez -- the club’s hottest hitter -- was not in the starting lineup for the series opener against the Royals on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

With Gerrit Cole on the mound, manager Aaron Boone opted to stick with the formula that has produced the best results for the Yankees’ ace this season: a pairing with backup catcher Kyle Higashioka.

The decision worked to perfection in the second inning, when Higashioka belted a solo shot off Royals starter Brady Singer. It was Higashioka's sixth homer of the year -- projected to travel 410 feet by Statcast -- but just his first since May 8. Unfortunately for the Yankees, their early lead would not hold in a 6-5 loss to Kansas City.

The backstop situation behind Cole has been a topic of some debate for the club this year, but with Sánchez beginning to surge at the plate in recent weeks, the question of whether he should be behind the dish for Cole’s starts has been raised in an even more pronounced way.

“Yeah, there was definitely a consideration,” Boone said. “Just think he benefits from that off-day and then here. Considered possibly [starting him] tonight and then have him [off] the day game after the night game Thursday, but if everything goes well tomorrow, I’ll probably push through with him and maybe play him back to back there and on into the weekend up in Boston.

“So, yeah, I considered it -- and obviously love where Gary’s at right now.”

Entering Tuesday, Higashioka has caught Cole in 82 1/3 of his innings this season, in which he compiled a 2.30 ERA with 108 strikeouts. Sánchez, meanwhile, has only caught 7 1/3 of Cole’s innings, to the tune of a 2.45 ERA and nine punchouts.

But with such a small sample size, the key difference between the two catchers is offensive production. In 53 games and 200 plate appearances in 2021, Sánchez is slashing .237/.340/.480 with 11 homers, 25 RBIs and an .820 OPS. In 33 games and 96 plate appearances, Higashioka is slashing .186/.271/.407 with five homers, nine RBIs and a .678 OPS.

“Obviously I really like the pairing and like the dynamic that they have and think very highly of Higgy as a catcher,” Boone said. “[But] I do plan on, at some point this season, Gary going back and catching him. If we get in a big spot tonight in the middle of the game, there’s a good chance Gary’s up there and he’s in the game like he was in Buffalo. And that went seamless.”

With the Yankees down by one run in the seventh inning against the Blue Jays on Wednesday night in Buffalo, N.Y., Sánchez entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Higashioka and promptly knocked a go-ahead two-run homer to help Cole and the Yanks escape with a 3-2 win.

Whether moments like that will be enough to sway Boone’s hand is still to be determined, but Sánchez is certainly making the decision harder on his skipper.

“He probably has to have a day [off] every turn through [the rotation] anyway,” Boone said, “and because the pairing with Gerrit and Higgy has been so dynamic, and because I think highly of Higgy and want to get him in there as well -- that’s the reason. But I definitely had some pause this time.”

Voit rejoins Yankees vs. Royals
Before Tuesday’s series opener, the Yankees reinstated Luke Voit from the 10-day injured list, and he slotted into the No. 3 spot in the lineup while starting at first base. Voit homered on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Brady Singer, belting a slider in the first inning for the first run of the game.

It has been an injury-riddled season for the 30-year-old Voit, whose 2021 debut was delayed by left knee surgery. He then played in just 12 games before a right oblique strain put him back on the IL on May 27.

• Yankees Injuries & Roster Moves

“He looks good, he looks like he’s in a really good frame of mind. I think he’s feeling really good physically,” Boone said before the game. “Obviously we didn’t rush this rehab either; he got quite a few at-bats down there, and we feel like he’s in a good spot and ready to contribute. And we’re obviously excited to get him back in the lineup.”

In a six-game Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre and Double-A Somerset last week, Voit went 8-for-19 (.421) with two homers and seven RBIs. Boone is confident that he won’t need to be eased into his return to the big leagues.

“He’s played quite a bit, which was part of the plan,” Boone said. “Obviously we’re entering a stretch of 13 [straight], so I don’t think you’ll see him run him out there all 13 of those. But he’s built up and should be ready to roll.”