The New York Yankees desperately need Giancarlo Stanton back in the lineup, having lost the last two games against the Toronto Blue Jays due to a lack of support in the run department.
Stanton last appeared for the Bombers on July 23 before being pulled due to Achilles tendinitis. He’s been working his way back diligently, spending the past several days participating in live batting practice and running drills pre-game at Yankee Stadium.
On the season, Stanton is hitting .228 with a 30.9% on base rate, .498 slugging percentage, 24 homers, and 61 RBIs. He also hosts a 28.4% strikeout rate and 10.7% walk rate.
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Despite Oswaldo Cabrera providing a spark for the Yankees, they desperately need one of their best hitters back to feature in the cleanup spot.
In Stanton’s absence, Donaldson has spent the majority of his at-bats in the No. 4 slot but hasn’t provided the same slugging capabilities that Giancarlo contains.
Luckily, the team announced on Saturday morning that Stanton would commence a rehab assignment with AA Somerset, setting him up for a return next week.
Per the Yankees:
Today, OF/DH Giancarlo Stanton commences a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset.
Dealing with Achilles tendinitis is no joke, so the Yankees need to take his progress carefully. It will be interesting to see how they utilize him as a defender. They would likely try to mitigate fatigue by featuring him in the designated hitter spot.
At this point, the Bombers need his offensive capabilities more than anything, posting a 53% hard-hit rate and 21% barrel rate this season over 80 games. Having a healthy Stanton during the playoffs is a necessity, so expect the Yankees to utilize him with caution.