The New York Yankees are heading toward a rivalry series against the Boston Red Sox after earning a sweep of the Kansas City Royals.
The batting order has been one of the best in baseball all year, led by an astounding season from franchise slugger Aaron Judge. And after Giancarlo Stanton began a minor-league rehab stint this week, the team can be hopeful that its offense will get even more potent in the near future.
“The injured Yankees designated hitter remains on track to make his regular-season debut this weekend when New York visits the Boston Red Sox for a three-game series at Fenway Park,” according to Mike Rosenstein of NESN. “If Stanton can return and stay healthy — that’s a big ‘if’ for someone who’s missed significant time in each of the last six seasons — he will team with reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge to form perhaps the best 1-2 combo in baseball.”
With a lead in the American League East division, the Yankees have proven they can survive without Stanton’s bat in the lineup. But the team is surely hoping that he will be able to stay healthy for the rest of the year whenever he does make his season debut as he’s in the midst of a $325 million contract.
In a harsh injury evaluation for the slugger, an anonymous scout told NJ.com Bob Klapisch that the team is left to hope that Stanton’s annual injury woes have occured at the beginning of this season rather than in the middle or at the end.
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
“Stanton can’t play a full year anymore, so instead of 6-7 months the Yankees are getting him for the last three,” per the scout. “If I’m (GM Brian) Cashman, I’m thinking this is going to work out.”
At this point, it appears that the most important thing for the Yankees will be having Stanton healthy for the playoffs. Though he hasn’t stayed healthy for a full year in some time, perhaps he’ll last for the remainder of this season.
More MLB: Yankees infielder breaks silence on looming cut after Giancarlo Stanton return