Yankees Maintain Consistent Lineup Strategy for ALDS Against Royals

The New York Yankees have maintained a consistent lineup strategy for the ongoing American League Division Series against the Kansas City Royals. Notably, Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti have alternated roles at first base, while Alex Verdugo has consistently started in left field, leaving Jasson Domínguez on the bench for all four games of the series.

The Yankees’ lineup order has largely remained unchanged, a strategy that includes Austin Wells in the role of cleanup hitter. Despite a challenging September where he posted a .111/.217/.194 slash line, Yankees manager Aaron Boone is confident in Wells’ abilities, stating that the young catcher has shown maturity at the plate. “I just feel like within that little bit of a bump, we’re seeing a real mature hitter,” Boone remarked on Friday, emphasizing Wells’ pivotal at-bat during a clinching game against the Orioles’ Cionel Perez.

Wells has struggled recently, but his earlier performance in the season was strong, earning speculation as a candidate for the American League Rookie of the Year honors. Despite his September slump, where his overall OPS was a disappointing .411, Boone expresses confidence in the backstop’s comeback in the postseason.

Additionally, Wells himself acknowledged his late-season struggles, attributing them to trying too hard, rather than fatigue. “I think that I probably tried to do too much at the end of the season and got away from what was making me successful,” Wells said. However, he remains optimistic about his recent form, stating, “I feel good.”

Throughout the season, Wells provided a crucial left-handed power presence in the lineup, nestled between right-handed batting stars Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. He achieved 13 home runs, 55 RBIs, and maintained a .718 OPS over 354 at-bats.

As the Yankees prepare for another playoff series, Wells expressed his excitement about the prospect of postseason baseball, describing the atmosphere as expected to be “very loud and very exciting,” and enthusiastically stating, “Playoff baseball, let’s go.”