Yankees Gio Urshela dodges injury; September struggles persist

Yankees third baseman Gio Ursehla left Tuesday night’s loss in the seventh inning after getting hit on the right hand by a 95-mph fastball. Although X-ray’s came back negative, the 27-year-old is considered day-to-day.

September has been a month to forget for Yankees standout third baseman Gio Urshela.

Amid a career renaissance, Urshela is coming off the most productive August of his brief major league career. In 104 at-bats during the peak of the summer heat, the Columbia native slashed .385/.413/.663 with 20 runs scored, eight doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBIs.

However, since sustaining a groin injury while running out a ground ball on Sept 28, and a subsequent 10-day IL stint, Urshela has yet to find himself at the plate.

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In the 15 games, he’s suited up in September, Urshela is slashing a lethargic .188/.250/.354 with two doubles, two homers, six RBIs and 11 strikeouts across 48 at-bats.

According to Fangraphs, Urshela is hitting more flyballs and fewer line drives, dropping his BABIP from .336 to .220 in September. His pull rate is also down from 47.5 percent in August to a little over 30 percent.

Trying to get things turned around in time for the start of the playoffs next week, Urshela went 0-for-2, before leaving Tuesday’s contest in the seventh inning after being plunked on the right hand by a Diego Castillo 95-mph fastball.

With four regular-season games remaining and the Yankees trailing the Houston Astros by two in the loss column for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, manager Aaron Boone told Brendan Kuty of NJ.com that he was encouraged by the results on the X-ray and wouldn’t necessarily rest Urshela unless necessary.

"“Not necessarily,” the manager said. “Certainly, if he has an issue with it (Wednesday), then yes, but I don’t necessarily at this point look at it as he’s automatically down. We’ll certainly not risk everything and check on him and see how it is. But I don’t anticipate just an automatic down.”"

Looking ahead to the ALDS, if Urshela is healthy — even if the bat remains cold, his defensive prowess when combined with the regular amount of provided Yankee power should be more than enough to plug him in at the hot corner.

However, if Urshela is unable to overcome his latest setback, Boone could shift MVP candidate D.J. LeMahieu to third base — and platoon Edwin Encarnacion (expected to be activated from the IL on Friday) and Luke Voit at first base.

That would allow Giancarlo Stanton to man left-field or DH, depending on the park — with Cameron Maybin being the likely alternative in left.