NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge may not be on the Yankees’ roster for the American League Wild Card Series, but there will be a different imposing figure waiting in the dugout for the biggest moments of their showdown against the Red Sox.
Giancarlo Stanton will be active as a pinch-hitting option, included on the 26-man squad announced by the Yankees on Tuesday morning. Stanton has not played in a Major League game since late April due to calf injuries.
Stanton participated in live batting practice on Monday at Yankee Stadium, taking at-bats against Elmer Rodriguez and Ryan Weathers. He also spent time on the bases and ran in the outfield.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone characterized Stanton as “knocking on the door” to return. Especially against the lefty-heavy Red Sox, Stanton’s presence could prove valuable.
“Having the threat there is real,” Boone said on Sept. 25. “If we feel like he’s up to it and ready for it, the threat that we all know G is -- we’ve got to weigh that.”
Even with the first pitch yet to be thrown, this is already unlike any postseason in Boone’s memory.
At this stage, his Yankees are usually debating the 25th and 26th men on the roster, or whether to carry a certain pitcher over a position player. This year’s debates were much more involved.
“There’s a few roster decisions still that we keep kind of bouncing back and forth, thinking about lineup construction,” Boone said on Monday. “Those are still things I’m wrestling with to some degree. Ultimately, we’ve got to settle on it tomorrow and let it rip.”
Consider it settled and ripped. Here is the breakdown of the Yankees’ roster:
Pitchers (10): David Bednar Paul Blackburn, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Brent Headrick, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler, John Schreiber, Will Warren, Ryan Yarbrough
Catchers (2): Austin Wells, Ali Sánchez
Infielders (8): @, José Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis García Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, George Lombard Jr., Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, Anthony Volpe
Outfielders (4): Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Spencer Jones, Heliot Ramos
Designated hitter (2): Ben Rice Giancarlo Stanton