The New York Yankees are spending the past few days praising the willingness of Giancarlo Stanton to play right field until Aaron Judge is able to return to the mix.
The Yankees also are enjoying Stanton’s hot streak at the plate. The slugger is coming off his first four-hit performance in nearly two years heading into Wednesday when New York attempts to finish off a three-game sweep of the visiting Minnesota Twins.
The Yankees are 4-2 in their past six contests following a five-game losing streak.
In Tuesday’s 9-1 rout, Stanton went 4-for-5 for his first four-hit game since Aug. 24, 2023.
The Yankees collected 11 hits and 11 walks to get on the verge of their first series sweep since beating the Seattle Mariners July 8-10 during their five-game winning streak.
“I feel good,” Stanton said. “Putting together good at-bats, the timing’s there.”
Stanton homered, doubled and had two singles, including a two-run base hit. He ended his third game in right field while Judge fully recovers from an elbow injury with a .300 average and is 8-for-13 in his past four contests.
“It’s been impressive,” Judge said of Stanton, who homered in consecutive games for the third time this season and has eight homers in his past 18 contests. “Besides the homers and clutch hits, he’s using the whole field. Ever since he’s come back he’s been dialed in.”
The Twins are on a nine-game losing streak to the Yankees and 5-28 in the regular season in New York over their past 33 visits. After winning four of their previous five games heading into the series, the Twins have mustered four hits in the series.
On Tuesday, Austin Martin hit a leadoff single and the Twins only scored when Royce Lewis avoided a double play. After loading the bases in the first inning, Minnesota had one baserunner the rest of the way.
Minnesota also issued a season-worst 11 walks after permitting two and getting 12 strikeouts in Monday’s 6-2 loss.
“I’d say our strike throwing wasn’t too good today and it has to be significantly better,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. “That’s no secret.”
Right-hander Joe Ryan (11-5, 2.79 ERA), who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 17 starts, will get the nod on Wednesday for the Twins. He last pitched Thursday at home against Kansas City and allowed one run on four hits in five innings of a 9-4 win.
Ryan is 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 11 road starts this season. He is 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four career starts against the Yankees.
Fellow right-hander Cam Schlittler (1-2, 4.38) makes his sixth career start and first versus Minnesota. He has not allowed more than three runs each time out.
Schlittler last pitched Friday when he took a no-decision after allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings of a 5-3, 10-inning loss to the Houston Astros.
–Field Level Media
