Giancarlo Stanton is back in the Yankees’ October picture, even if his first assignment may come with a bat in his hands and one big swing waiting in reserve. New York included Stanton on its 26-man roster for the American League Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, giving Aaron Boone a pinch-hit threat as the clubs open Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. Aaron Judge was not included on the roster.
Key takeaways
- Stanton made the Wild Card Series club after missing Major League action since late April with calf trouble.
- The Yankees will open against Boston at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
- New York selected 10 pitchers, two catchers, eight infielders, four outfielders and two designated hitters.
- Stanton faced Elmer Rodriguez and Ryan Weathers during live batting practice Monday at Yankee Stadium.
- Boston’s left-handed pitching options made Stanton’s right-handed power an especially appealing roster consideration.
Stanton gives Boone a late-game card
Stanton had not appeared in a Major League game since late April, but the Yankees put him through a fuller workout on Monday. Along with his live at-bats, he ran the bases and worked in the outfield, checking off the sort of activity the club needed to see before committing him to a postseason spot.
Boone said Stanton had been close to returning, describing the veteran slugger as being near the doorstep. The manager had said last week that simply having Stanton available changes an opponent’s calculations, provided the Yankees believed he was physically ready. In Boone’s view, the danger Stanton presents had to be balanced against the risk of carrying a player coming off a long absence.
For a club that expects to see plenty of left-handed looks from Boston, Stanton offers a familiar October possibility: a right-handed hitter on the bench capable of changing an inning with one plate appearance.
Boone said the roster conversation had been more complicated than the usual final decisions over the last man or two. He was still weighing lineup construction on Monday, knowing the Yankees would have to make their choices by Tuesday and move forward.
The Yankees’ 26-man Wild Card Series roster
New York built its group around a 10-man pitching staff, then used Stanton and Ben Rice as its designated-hitter options. The full roster is as follows:
| Roster group | Players |
|---|---|
| Pitchers (10) | David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Brent Headrick, Carlos Rodón, Cam Schlittler, John Schreiber, Will Warren, Ryan Yarbrough |
| Catchers (2) | Austin Wells, Ali Sánchez |
| Infielders (8) | José Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Luis García Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, George Lombard Jr., Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, Anthony Volpe |
| Outfielders (4) | Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Spencer Jones, Heliot Ramos |
| Designated hitters (2) | Ben Rice, Giancarlo Stanton |
The Yankees now have their October group in place. Stanton’s role may begin as a bench weapon, but in a short series against the Red Sox, Boone has made room for the possibility that one healthy Stanton at-bat can matter more than another ordinary roster option.
