LeMahieu batting leadoff vs. lefties
NEW YORK -- Get used to seeing DJ LeMahieu in the leadoff spot for the Yankees, at least against lefties. Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that LeMahieu will likely bat leadoff against them for the time being.
"With how we're set up right now, I think he's the perfect guy to lead off," Boone said, referring to the team's current roster situation and a game against a lefty starter in Matthew Boyd.
"We feel like he's a guy that gives us really good at-bats, and especially against left-handed pitching. Throughout his career he's handled it really well," Boone said.
LeMahieu entered Wednesday's game a career .315 hitter against left-handed pitching with a .817 OPS in 1,049 plate appearances. He hits .292 with a .736 OPS against righties, in a larger sample of 2,766 plate appearances.
Boone also said that he can envision using LeMahieu in "just about every spot in the order" as the season goes on.
Sabathia reinstated from suspension, placed on injured list
The Yankees reinstated left-hander CC Sabathia from the suspended list Wednesday and placed him on the 10-day injured list as he continues his rehabilitation from cardiac surgery. Sabathia had a procedure for a blocked artery in December.
Sabathia threw 49 pitches in a four-inning outing on Monday in a Minor League game. Sabathia will make another Minor League start and then will be in line to potentially return to the Majors for his next start, according to Boone. That would be on the Yankees' next homestand, which begins next Friday against the White Sox.
Voit back in lineup with shielded hand
Luke Voit was back in the lineup a day after being hit by a Joe Jimenez pitch in the eighth inning of Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Tigers. Voit stayed in the game after the hit by pitch, and postgame X-rays came back negative.
It was the second time Voit has been hit by a pitch this season. He'll be wearing an EvoShield on his left hand, which can fit under his batting glove and his mitt in the field.