Yankees could be without Anthony Rizzo, who fractured two fingers on right hand when hit by a pitch
Anthony Rizzo of the New York Yankees bites his hand after being hit by a pitch during the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. Credit: Getty Images/Dustin Satloff
With one game left in the regular season, the Yankees suddenly have a major question at first base.
Anthony Rizzo was hit on the right hand by a slider thrown by lefty reliever Ryan Borucki in the seventh inning Saturday afternoon and suffered fractures in his fourth and fifth fingers, Aaron Boone said after his team’s 9-4 loss to the Pirates.
“It doesn’t totally rule him out [for the postseason],” Boone said. “We’ll see as the days unfold here what we have.”
The Yankees, guaranteed to be the first or second seed in the American League playoffs, will start their best-of-five Division Series next Saturday at the Stadium against an opponent to be determined.
Boone said conversations with team physician Christopher Ahmad indicated that playing in October isn’t impossible for Rizzo, who is scheduled to speak to the media on Sunday.
“Dr. Ahmad said this is an injury that . . . is a pain tolerance thing,” Boone said. “It’s not something that you’re in jeopardy when you play, it’s just, can you handle it?”
If Rizzo, who underwent X-rays after being removed from the game, is unable to play, the Yankees likely will have to choose between utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera and rookie Ben Rice to fill in. Rizzo's injury could open the door for DJ LeMahieu, who is the best defensive option at first base of the three, though he’s been on the injured list since Sept. 9 with a right hip impingement.
Rice, drafted as a catcher, had an electric start to his big-league career after coming up in mid-June to replace Rizzo, out at the time with a broken forearm, but quickly fizzled. After homering three times on July 6 against the Red Sox, Rice, while also learning a new position on the fly at the big-league level, went 11-for-98 (.112) with three homers and a .443 OPS in his next 32 games before being sent back to the minors Sept. 1.
“[He’s] playing really well down there and obviously has gained some experience up here, so he could be in the mix,” Boone said. “We’ll see.”
More Yankees headlines
