Verdugo is expected to start in left field in Game 2 of the ALDS versus Kansas City on Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Verdugo started in Game 1 and came through with a big performance, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. His seventh-inning RBI single broke a 5-5 tie, providing what proved to be the winning run. Verdugo's expected start in Game 2 seems to indicate that he's currently the preferred option in left field over rookie Jasson Dominguez, as the Yankees are electing to deploy the lefty-hitting Verdugo over the switch-hitting Dominguez against southpaw Cole Ragans.
Yankees' Alex Verdugo: Expected to start in Game 1
Rotowire
Verdugo is expected to start in left field for Game 1 of the ALDS against the Royals on Saturday, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.
Verdugo split starts in left field with Jasson Dominguez toward the end of the regular season after the latter was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Sept. 9. The duo had a similar slash line during that split, but it appears manager Aaron Boone will go with the veteran Verdugo for Game 1 of the ALDS. Verdugo's lone postseason appearance was in 2021 with the Red Sox, when he slashed .310/.383/.452 with one home run and six RBI across 47 plate appearances.
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Yankees' Alex Verdugo: Homers off bench
Rotowire
Verdugo hit a solo home run in his lone at-bat in Thursday's 10-1 win over the Orioles.
Verdugo has had to share left field with Jasson Dominguez in recent weeks. In September, Verdugo has gone 14-for-56 (.250) with two homers and five RBI over 17 games, which hasn't been enough to claw back playing time. Verudgo is at a .234/.293/.359 slash line with 13 homers, 59 RBI, 74 runs scored, 28 doubles and a stolen base over 147 contests this season.
Verdugo is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Verdugo was in the lineup Monday in the first game after Jasson Dominguez's promotion and even homered in that contest. However, he's expected to lose significant playing time to Dominguez moving forward, and on Tuesday, it will be the latter manning left field for the Yankees.
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Yankees' Alex Verdugo: Playing time expected to dip
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone suggested Monday that Verdugo is likely to see his playing time take a hit following outfielder Jasson Dominguez's promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
While Boone didn't explicitly say Verdugo is no longer a starter, he noted that Aaron Judge will play center field most days, Giancarlo Stanton will be the designated hitter most days and Dominguez will play "a lot." Boone had previously stood by Verdugo, even as the veteran outfielder has slashed just .235/.295/.356 in 137 games. However, the skipper finally looks ready to embrace a starting outfield trio of Judge, Dominguez and Juan Soto more often than not, while Stanton occupies the DH spot. The Yankees will make room in the lineup in Monday's game against the Royals for Verdugo, who will start in left field and bat ninth while Stanton finds himself as the odd man out of the lineup.
Verdugo went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's loss to Colorado.
Verdugo plated New York's second and final run of the contest with a solo shot to center field in the fourth inning. The long ball snapped a 36-game stretch without a home run for the outfielder, who hit just .179 during that span. Verdugo's production has been modest in his first season as a Yankee, as he's slashing .227/.290/.358 with 11 homers, 54 RBI, 63 runs and one stolen base through 529 plate appearances.
Verdugo is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
The 28-year-old started the previous 11 games and will sit Sunday while in the midst of a 2-for-18 slump. Top prospect Jasson Dominguez is up as the 27th man Sunday and is starting in left field, but Verdugo's playing time won't be affected moving forward since Dominguez is set to return to Triple-A after the contest.
