The Yankees are going with defensive dependability over offensive upside in left field for the first game of the ALDS.
Alex Verdugo is expected to start against the Royals in the Yankees’ playoff opener on Saturday night, according to SNY’s Andy Martino. That doesn’t mean Jasson Domínguez won’t start later in the series, but the Yankees are going with the steady glove for now.
Verdugo is coming off the worst offensive season of his career, as the impending free agent slashed .233/.291/.356 with 13 home runs, 61 RBI and an 83 wRC+. While a groundball machine, Verdugo had seven Defensive Runs Saved in left field this season.
Meanwhile, Domínguez’s shoddy defense attracted attention after the 21-year-old misplayed a few flyballs following a late-season call up. While his bat offers more potential than Verdugo’s, Domínguez didn’t put up any sparkling numbers at the plate over 18 games, hitting .179 with two homers, four RBI and five stolen bases.
“Outs need to be outs,” Aaron Boone said in late September when discussing the Yankees’ plans in left field. He added that defense would be a “big factor” in how he handles the position this October.
Boone also said that Verdugo and Domínguez would play parts this postseason.
“Both guys can really help us win games in whatever role that may be, whether they’re playing every inning of every game or whether it’s splitting it however,” Boone said. “I think both have a chance to be impactful.”
On Friday, Domínguez told reporters that he wasn’t sure what his role would be this postseason. Verdugo gave a similar answer on the last day of the season.
