Breaking News: A fresh ailment has sidelined the Yankees slugger.
It’s more than just an early-season day off for the Yankees, as Cody Bellinger is not in the starting lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Pirates.
At PNC Park on Friday afternoon, Yankees manager Aaron Boone disclosed that Bellinger’s back was experiencing stiffness during Thursday night’s victory against the Diamondbacks.
Even though Bellinger’s back started to feel better later in the evening, Boone still wanted to give the outfielder a day to rest and recover because the Yankees had a late trip to Pittsburgh following Thursday’s game.
Boone remarked, “I don’t want to mess with it.” “I don’t believe it’s a major issue.”
If Bellinger keeps improving during the day, Boone anticipates having him ready late in the game if necessary.
Bellinger, 29, is hitting either in front of Aaron Judge or after him in the lineup and is off to a.238/.296/.381 (5-for-21) start to the season.
Trent Grisham started in center field for the Yankees while Bellinger was out. With five hits in ten at-bats throughout the first six games of the season, he has been performing well so far and has taken advantage of his opportunities. In the victory over Arizona on Thursday night, Grisham also received a start and had three hits, including a two-run home run.
Max Fried, a left-hander, will start for the Yankees for the second time in his Yankees jersey in this Friday’s series opener.
DH Ben Rice
Judge Aaron, RF
Chisholm Jr., Jazz, 2B
Goldschmidt, Paul, 1B
Austin Wells, C.
Volpe, Anthony, SS
CF Trent Grisham
DomÃnguez Jasson, LF
3B Oswaldo Cabrera
