MLB Trade Rumors | Anthony Franco: With José Caballero returning to action after a brief stint on the injured list with a fractured finger, the Yankees opted to keep Anthony Volpe around as insurance. Not just that, but manager Aaron Boone announced that he will start taking drills at second base to increase his versatility.
Boone said that the decision on who will be the starting shortstop will be made “‘every night,” but Caballero was his choice on Friday’s opener vs. the Rays. For now, Volpe will try to learn second base, but there are no plans for him to play the hot corner.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Aaron Judge entered Friday’s game against the Rays with just one hit, a single, in his last five games and 21 plate appearances. He knows he is not exactly going through his best stretch of the season and is aware of the need for improvement. He blamed pitch selection for his mini slump: “I’m not doing enough at the plate,” Judge said. “That’s what we’re doing right there. … I wouldn’t say we’re not seeing the ball well. I think it’s about making sure we’re swinging at the right pitches.”
CBS Sports | Mike Axisa: Gerrit Cole made his long-awaited season debut on Friday, and he was huge for the Yankees with six scoreless frames. The strikeouts aren’t all the way back, as he fanned just two, but he surrendered just two hits and three walks in the highly-efficient masterpiece. If it wasn’t his first start of the year at the MLB level (and the first since 2024), he could have gone even further, as he needed just 72 pitches to dominate the Rays. New York’s rotation is really unfair for the rest of the league now that the veteran ace is back to full health. The offense needs to show up, though.
In another must-read article, Cole opened up to longtime reporter Stephanie Apstein of SI.com about his rehab process, his fears, and the long road back to these six scoreless frames and what’s to come.
Bryan Hoch on X: The Yankees have been without designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton since April 25th, when he went down with a calf strain. Per Hoch, the star slugger will be examined “this coming week” to see if he can resume running. He has been hitting, but won’t be able to return if he can’t run. Boone suggested there’s a chance Stanton skips a rehab assignment when cleared.
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