Yankees’ Playoff Chances Take a Hit as Slugger Declared a ‘Longshot’
No one is mistaking Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo for Lou Gehrig these days. However, with the MLB playoffs approaching, the Yankees are facing the reality of their infield situation without Rizzo, who fractured two bones in his fingers on Saturday. His chances of playing appear bleak.
While the Yankees left the door open for a potential return, manager Aaron Boone cautioned fans not to get their hopes up. “I think he is a long shot, at best, for the divisional round,” Boone stated during an appearance on MLB Network’s “High Heat.”
This season, Rizzo is hitting just .228, with an on-base percentage of .301 and an OPS of .637, the lowest of his career. He has played only 92 games, and his eight home runs reflect his worst home run rate ever.
The drop-off from a skilled defensive first baseman like Rizzo—ranked as the No. 15 first baseman in baseball by Baseball Savant—to utility player Oswaldo Cabrera or rookie Ben Rice, who joined the roster on Sunday, is significant.
