The Yankees and Orioles are neck-and-neck in the AL East.
Both teams have struggled recently, but the Yankees are making moves. After Brian Cashman said Alex Verdugo was their best option in left field, they called up Jasson Domínguez to the majors. DJ LeMahieu is on the IL with a right hip impingement, Jon Berti is back, and Anthony Misiewicz has been designated for assignment.
Domínguez is starting in center field and batting sixth against the Royals today.
Aaron Boone mentioned that Domínguez will get plenty of playing time, though he’ll still mix things up: “The roster is a living, breathing organism.”
Yankees’ Recent Moves:
Verdugo came from the Red Sox last offseason. He’s hitting .235/.295/.356 with 0.9 WAR over 137 games. Even his recent .302/.333/.326 performance hasn’t been enough.
Domínguez had Tommy John surgery last season after just eight games where he hit .258 with four home runs. This year, he’s been recovering and also dealt with an oblique injury. In Triple-A, he’s hitting .314/.376/.504 with 11 home runs and 16 stolen bases over 44 games.
Fans might think these changes are exciting but risky.
He was promoted for one game this season but went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.
The Yankees have just 19 games left and lead by half a game over the Orioles. They’ll face off at Yankee Stadium from Sept. 24-26.
What do you think about these changes?
