Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton misses Game 2 loss with a quad strain

Giancarlo Stanton was one of the heroes in the Yankees Game 1 win but in Game 2 Sunday night he was on the bench and out of the starting lineup dealing with yet another injury. Stanton reportedly suffered a right quad strain on Saturday and his availability for the remainder of the series is up in the air.

The ALCS is now tied with the series heading back to New York after the Yankees lost a heartbreaker Sunday night on a walk-off home run by Carlos Correa in the bottom of the 11th inning. It was an outstanding game from start to finish but the Yankee offense could only muster two runs and blew a great chance to take a commanding 2-0 series’ lead.

It probably would’ve helped to have had the former NL MVP Stanton in the lineup but he’s considered day-to-day with the quad strain. Before the game, it didn’t sound like the Yankees plan on replacing him on the roster because if they did he wouldn’t be able to return for the World Series by rule. GM Brian Cashman said he doesn’t think the injury is a long term concern but an MRI did reveal a strain so it doesn’t seem likely that Stanton will be the starting left fielder Tuesday night.

This has been a nightmare season for Stanton on the injury front so it’s not all that surprising to him go down with another one. The injury apparently happened when he beat out an infield single in the top of the second of Game 1 but that didn’t stop him from launching his first home run of the playoffs in the top of the fifth to extend the Yankees lead to 3-0.

Following the game, there was no reason to believe Stanton had hurt himself but once the lineup was released on Sunday with Cameron Maybin in left field you knew that something was wrong. After the at-bats he had on Sunday, there’s no way the Yankees would’ve put him on the bench even with the great Justin Verlander on the mound.

In Stanton’s absence, Maybin did a fine job going 1-2 with a walk before he was pinch-hit for by Aaron Hicks against the righty Joe Smith in the top of the tenth. Aaron Boone said before the game that Stanton would be available to pinch-hit as well, but I don’t think the Yanks wanted him playing defense with the game tied in extras so they went with Hicks instead.

Moving forward, if Stanton is only an option off the bench for the rest of the series that would be a big blow to the Yankees offense. However, I think the Yanks still have to like their chances heading home for the next three games with the series tied at 1. They’ve won a lot of games without Stanton all season and both Maybin and Hicks (if healthy) are capable of making a big impact at the plate as well.

More from Yankees News

• Aaron Judge’s influence on Carlos Rodón shows he’s more powerful than Yankees
• Yankees sign 2022 Red Sox reliever, invite him to spring training
• Yankees trade Lucas Luetge for 2 intriguing Braves prospects after DFA
• Never forget Miguel Andújar wrecked Yankees’ Nolan Arenado trade
• Diamondbacks outfielder’s comment on Carlos Rodón’s IG raises eyebrows

With Gerrit Cole on the mound Tuesday night I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Hicks was in the lineup and starting in center field. Prior to last night, he hadn’t played in a game since August 3rd but against the right-hander, he gives the Yanks another power threat from the left side and someone who can work deep counts and make Cole throw a lot of pitches.

As for the rest of the lineup, the Yankees are going to need guys like Edwin Encarnacion and Gary Sanchez to step up. They both entered October coming off injuries as well and so far they’re a combined 1-17 with 10 K’s in this ALCS. They need to get it going as soon as possible with the series shifting to New York, especially if Stanton isn’t going to be in the lineup.

I’m sure we’ll get a better idea of Stanton’s playing status before first pitch on Tuesday, but again if I had to guess I don’t think we’ll see him in the starting lineup. As much as the Yanks would love to have his bat out there it’s too risky to put him in left field with a bum quad at Yankee Stadium where’s there’s much more ground to cover than there is in most ballparks.

If anything, maybe we see him start at DH in Game 4 or 5 if Encarnacion continues to struggle. His quad isn’t going to heal up before the end of this series and probably won’t before the end of the postseason, but he did hit a home run after he suffered the injury on Saturday. Clearly he’s not 100% but nobody really is at this time of year so hopefully, he can play through the pain and impact a game with one big swing.