Aaron Boone believes Giancarlo Stanton is protecting his legs
Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Yankees flies out to end a game against the Houston Astros at Yankee Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Giancarlo Stanton started in rightfield and went 0-for-6 in the Yankees’ 9-7 loss to the Astros at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
One day earlier, a jarring clip of Stanton gingerly running the bases and pulling up before getting thrown out at the plate made national news, even on non-sports websites.
Manager Aaron Boone admitted that Stanton’s walk/jog “wasn’t a great look . . . but nothing other than him just making sure he doesn’t put himself in a dangerous position.”
Stanton has a history of leg injuries and missed 43 games earlier this season with a Grade 2 left hamstring strain. Boone said the 33-year-old is not currently nursing an injury.
“It’s just him trying to preserve himself,” Boone said. “I don’t think he’s dealing with anything right now. I think he’s in a good place physically. But I think in the back of his mind, there is always that concern, because he’s had calves and hammies and quads [injuries] . . . He just tries to make sure he’s in a gait that’s not stressing his body.”
Stanton has had to play more rightfield lately because Aaron Judge has mostly been limited to designated hitter duty since returning from his toe injury.
Despite Saturday’s debacle and his struggles at the plate on Sunday, Stanton has homered in three of his last five games and has 10 homers in his last 23.
Lo and behold
The Yankees expect to activate Jonathan Loaisiga from the 60-day injured list Monday. Loaisiga has been out since April 4 with right elbow inflammation. He had surgery in early May to remove a bone spur. After Sunday’s loss, the Yankees optioned pitcher Jhony Brito to Triple-A Scranton.
The Yankees do not have a starter listed for Wednesday in Chicago against the White Sox in what would be slumping Luis Severino’s turn in the rotation.
The hamstring injury suffered by Carlos Rodon on Sunday could mean the Yankees will have to start Severino on Wednesday.
Boone declined to commit to either Severino starting or getting moved to the bullpen, saying the team will “kind of continue to talk all the way up to that point.”
Extra bases
Gleyber Torres went 3-for-4 with two walks and is 11-for-18 with four walks in his last five games.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
