Edwin Encarnacion

New York Yankees: Powered by Encarnacion, Yankees Rout Red Sox 5-1

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New York Yankees, Edwin Encarnacion

The New York Yankees faced up against the Boston Red Sox Saturday afternoon in the second game of a four-game set. Edwin Encarnacion led the Yankees to the win with three RBIs.

Winning pitcher JA Happ completed his third straight quality start with zero runs allowed over 6.1 innings pitched. He allowed two hits while fanning seven batters. The Red Sox attempted to utilize the “bullpen game” strategy. Boston pitching allowed five runs on nine hits.

This would be Happ’s second straight start without allowing a run. When asked about what he thinks allowed him to get positive results over his last two outings Happ said, “I’ve been focusing a lot on trying to get strike one… just staying in my lanes a little bit on both sides of the plate.” Happ added, “I’m in a better place mentally… the effort I’m trying to make is to move onto the next one, good or bad.”

“He was in command of that game from the start,” said manager Aaron Boone on his pitcher. “…to get into the seventh inning against an offense like that…just really excited to continue to see him build some momentum.” Happ has struggled for the majority of the season and his last three starts are giving the Yankees hope for the postseason.

Gary Sanchez doubled in the top of the fourth inning to knock in two runs. JD Martinez homered off Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth to give the Red Sox their lone run.

The New York Yankees improved their record to 93-50 while the Red Sox dropped to 76-66. The two teams will match up again tomorrow at 8:08 PM EST in Boston.

New York Yankees: Will these 2 players earn postseason roster spots?

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Mike Tauchman, New York Yankees

With the postseason right around the bend for the New York Yankees, they must start to gain momentum heading into the back end of the regular season.

With a stellar performance by starting pitcher James Paxton against the Texas Rangers, allowing just one hit and striking out 12 batters over seven innings, he is elevating his game at the perfect time. Yankees also smash six home runs through seven, five of which came during an eight-run two-inning rally.

As the playoffs near, the Yankees must begin to think about the roster and who can play an impactful role moving forward.

Could the seemingly outcasted Clint Frazier earn the nod for the postseason? Or will the Yankees elect to go with more established players like Cameron Maybin?

It is also possible they pull up Mike Ford as a third first baseman given the recent injuries to Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion. While that is unlikely, there are plenty of things manager Aaron Boone can do to ensure he has the firepower in the batting order against teams with better pitchers.

Nonetheless—

Here are two New York Yankees players that could be pulled up for the postseason:

1.) OF Mike Tauchman

With only two hits in his last 31 at-bats, Tauchman is currently hitting a rough patch before the regular season comes to an end. However, he has had a rather impressive campaign, hitting .279 on the season with 12 homers and 45 RBIs. He also has 31 walks to his name.

As a back of the order hitter, Tauchman offers value as a lefty and as a defensive player. Over 81 games this season, he has earned a .993 fielding percentage with two total errors. He has played every outfield position this season and can be utilized as a utility player in the scenario of an injury. He offers average offensive abilities but better defensive, which makes him a decent option if Boone elects to keep him for the postseason.

2.) OF Clint Frazier

One of the more questionable Yankees players is Clint Frazier.  His privileged attitude and inability to abide by Yankees law has seemed to push them down the pecking order for potential pull-ups to the majors. However, Frazier has been a solid offensive player while at the top level for the Bombers this season. Hitting .276 with 11 homers and 34 RBIs, Frazier holds value in that facet.

While his sample size is only 250 plate appearances and 196 at-bats, he has elite bat speed and can produce in clutch moments. That gives him value for a potential playoff roster spot, but his defense is so bad that he cannot be trusted in the field. That factor alone will likely leave them off the active roster for the playoffs, but he can’t be rolled out with time left to prove his worth. This season he has a .952 fielding percentage with six total errors.

If Frazier wishes to earn a spot for the postseason, he must show better defensive qualities, more so then he put on display several days ago against the Oakland Athletics.

Luis Severino and Edwin Encarnacion: Faces Their First Challenges in Scranton

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Luis Severino and Edwin Encarnacion of the New York Yankees, who are both progressing through rehab cautiously, were designated for a Minor League rehab assignment with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Sunday afternoon.

Severino only pitched 1.0 inning,  allowing 3 hits, 2 runs and struck out 2 batters on 33 pitches. 17 fastballs, 12 sliders, and 4 changeups were among his arsenal vs the Buffalo Bisons. Sevy was around the 94-96 MPH range with his fastball, 80-86 MPH with his slider and 89 MPH with his changeup.

Last season, Sevy accumulated a 3.39 ERA, 2.95 FIP, and a 1.14 WHIP, which are outstanding numbers. He also collected a 10.35 K/9, 2.16 BB/9 and a 0.89 HR/9 through 191.1 innings. Sevy has a long road to travel to replicate his previous season, but I have faith that he will be prepared when October shows its unpredictable face.

As for Encarnacion, he was designated as the DH role. Eddy went 1 for 4 on Sunday afternoon, including a hit by a pitch that resulted in an RBI. Before Eddy fractured his wrist, due to a hit by pitch vs the Boston Red Sox, back in early August, he was on an absolute shredding spree. Throughout the 2019 season, Eddy has accumulated a .240 AVG, .346 OBP and a .518 SLG, .359 wOBA and a 127 wRC+ in 101 games. He also has driven in 30 homers and 76 RBI in 451 plate appearances.

In his last 15 games, Eddy had acquired a .328 AVG, .414 OBP and a .541 SLG in 61 at-bats. Along with his phenomenal track record, both seasonal and career-wise, Eddy has sensational plate discipline and can generate quality at-bats consistently. His 12.6 walk percentage is among the top 20 in the majors and his 21.3 strikeout percentage isn’t mediocre by any means. Although his expected average isn’t in great shape, his exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, expected weighted on-base average and expected slugging are in excellent condition.

New York Yankees to gain back three essential players

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New York Yankees, Luis Severino

The New York Yankees have hit a few roadblocks in recent weeks losing several key players to injury. Gaining back starting pitcher Luis Severino will be a massive addition to a team that’s lacking in the rotation. The bullpen is also weak and going through a state of fatigue. On Friday night, the Bombers sent CC Sabathia to the mound, allowing just one earned run. The bullpen forfeited seven runs over four innings to ruin an exceptional performance by the Yankees veteran starter.

However, despite their issues in the pitching department, the Yanks are scheduled to gain back three influential players that will not only help on the mound but in run production as well.

Three players the New York Yankees are preparing to gain back from injury:

1.) SP Luis Severino

Severino will pitch for the first time on Sunday as he begins a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton / Wilkes-Barre. He will be on a low pitch count and will likely only work two innings of play.

“We’ll see,” Boone said. “We don’t have an exact plan as far as what we would do next for him. We’ll see how Sunday goes and then lay out the next five days.”

It’s expected that Severvino will rejoin the team mid-September —  perfect timing to get him in rhythm before the postseason.

2.) INF Edwin Encarnacion

The Yankees mid-season acquisition was forced out on August 3rd due to a fractured right wrist. Since the injury, Mike Ford and DJ LeMahieu have stepped up while Luke Voit has also been out with a sports hernia.

Encarnacion has been taking BP with the Bombers over the weekend and could be off the injured list before Wednesday. He will participate in a rehab assignment with Scranton before making his way back to the big-leagues.

3.) INF Gio Urshela

The Yankees lost one of their surprise stars this season to a minor groin injury last week. After hitting a single, Urshela pulled up to first base clutching his groin. One of the team’s best defensive players, losing him with surely hurt in that facet, but he had been struggling offensively so this time off might give him a chance to regain his form.

It’s expected that Gio will be eligible to return on September 8. “That’s my read,” Boone said, per NJ.com. “I think Sunday in Boston would be the first day he’s eligible, and I’m looking at it as it’s a real possibility. It feels like something that’s probably a few days, but with an off day (last Thursday) and an off day coming (next Thursday) and just the time of year it is … it’s probably the best thing for him and for us to do this now and make sure this doesn’t become a lingering issue.”

The one player the New York Yankees don’t need returning to the lineup

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New York Yankees, Greg Bird

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has an odd obsession with first baseman Greg Bird. So much so, that despite him not hitting over .200 in the last three years, he’s still a consistent option on the starting team.

Bird went down with an injury this season, being placed on the 60-day injured list with the left plantar fascia tear. A working timeline for his return has not been determined, but Cashman will likely find a way to see him back to the active roster. Hopefully, it won’t be until next season when he’s completely healthy again. In all seriousness, he shouldn’t return at all.

The reality of Bird’s situation is simple; he doesn’t have the offensive production required to be a starter on the Yankees team. He has exceptional defensive traits and qualities, but those only go so far when it comes to playing against some of the best teams in the league come playoff time.

However, he could’ve been used after both Luke about, and Edwin Encarnacion went down with injuries. Utility man DJ LeMahieu has covered for both starters in the meantime. The Yankees also pulled up minor-league first baseman Mike Ford to supplement the loss of their two starters. Luckily, both sluggers will return to full health in the coming weeks.

Is New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird on the recovery trail?

“He’s actually doing pretty well,” Boone added. “He’s been on the treadmill of late. I know in his mind, just from the reports I’ve gotten, he’s starting to feel pretty good. So hopefully he’s potentially moving towards getting back into baseball activities.”

Boone didn’t state that Bird was officially done for the season, but it’s seeming like he will be out until next year with the September 1 deadline to call up players nearing.

After an impressive rookie season in 2015 where Bird hit .261 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 46 games, he’s failed to replicate anything close to those numbers. It seems like a pipe-dream to expect anything more than mediocrity from him at the plate moving forward.

New York Yankees: Edwin Encarnacion Nears Return, Boone Says Sooner Than Later

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New York Yankees, Edwin Encarnacion

New York Yankees slugger Edwin Encarnacion went down with a fractured wrist after being hit with a pitch earlier this month against the Boston Red Sox. The injury looked identically to Aaron Judge’s injury which sidelined him for roughly six weeks. However, recent reports indicate that Encarnacion is on his way soon.

Encarnacion has resumed baseball activities where he participated in throwing and fielding drills a few days ago. He’s also been hitting in the cage this week. Manager Aaron Boone has indicated that he should be back sooner rather than later. Although Boone wasn’t able to prove specifics he said, “Expect him back soon… he’s not too far off.”

The 36-year-old veteran will have to see live pitching before he begins a rehab assignment. He’ll most likely take live at-bats to make sure he’s okay to step back in a real game. Boone talked about this saying, “Hopefully he’ll start to see some pitching here pretty soon and feel like he’ll be an option in here.”

Encarnacion was one of the focal points in the New York Yankees’ offense this season. Prior to this injury, he was batting .240 with 30 home runs. Not much of a singles guy, the Yankees mainly added him earlier this season because of his pop. In his 36 games this season wearing pinstripes, Encarnacion is slashing .238/.327/.497. He’ll most likely alternate the DH spot with Luke Voit during the postseason.

Other New York Yankees players that are expected to return soon are Luis Severino, Dellin Betances, and Luke Voit.

New York Yankees to gain back essential slugger very soon

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New York Yankees, Edwin Encarnacion

As we journey towards the post-season, the New York Yankees are attempting to return several influential players who have been hampered due to injury. Starting pitcher Luis Severino and relief option Dellin Betances are both preparing for minor-league rehab assignments that would allow them to return to the team before the end of the regular season.

However, one of the more impactful bats in the lineup and starting quality defender, Edwin Encarnacion, is inching closer to a return as well. The Yankees mid-season acquisition from the Seattle Mariners was on a home run tear before going down with a fractured wrist, but has been hitting in the cage and manager Aaron Boone stated he should be back sooner rather than later.

Encarnacion plucked ground balls and played catch, further proving his successful rehab.

“From my understanding that went well,’’ Boone said of Edwin.

The Slugger was hitting .238 for the Yanks before suffering the injury, and while that number doesn’t jump off the page, his home run totals are what make him a significant weapon in the batting order. With 30 homers on the year, the Bombers need his influence back, along with fellow first-baseman Luke Voit.

Statistically, Encarnacion is the better defensive option and will likely return in that facet, while Voit acts as the everyday designated hitter.

The Yankees will need both players healthy for the playoff quest considering their lack of quality pitching in the starting rotation and bullpen. I expect to see heavy doses of Adam Ottavino and Domingo German/Masahiro Tanaka. It also seems as if James Paxton will earn the nod ahead of J.A. Happ in the rotation.

Another New York Yankees injury update:

Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is also on the track to recovery, as he was seen launching lasers during batting practice on Tuesday night. Consistent injuries have derailed him this year, forcing him to the injured reserve list. Having just 38 total plate-appearances this year, Stanton will look to return before the playoffs to gain some momentum and help his team succeed down the stretch.

New York Yankees close to getting back two essential sluggers

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New York Yankees, Edwin Encarnacion

The New York Yankees haven’t been able to avoid the injury bug all season. Losing both starting-quality first baseman surely didn’t help in their quest for success, but luckily they’ve been able to supplement their loss in production with other players.

However, they’re close to getting both Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion back from injury. Voit is expected to start a rehab assignment next Friday.

“The way we have it mapped out, there is a chance he could join us that Friday when we start the homestand,” Boone said, according to the NY Post.

Encarnacion, on the other hand, has been hitting off a tee and scooping ground balls, a good indication that he’s inching closer towards a potential return. The Yankees desperately need his bat in the lineup and his ability to hit homers in critical situations.

According to Aaron Boone, Edwin is progressing nicely:

“From my understanding that went well,’’ Boone said of Encarnacion, who was participating in physical activity after a fractured wrist.

There’s no timetable for return regarding Encarnacion, but Boone stated that the Yankees are expecting him back.

“No, but certainly expect him back. Hopefully he is not too far off,” as per Boone.

Edwin is hitting .240 on the season with an impressive 30 homers and 76 RBIs. He was an integral part of the Yankees lineup and is the favored designated hitter. The Bombers have been working utility man DJ LeMahieu into the ground with the absence of their two starting first baseman.

Gaining them back will be extremely important for a playoff run, and their run support will be welcomed with open arms. Health is the primary catalyst for success when it comes to the Yankees. They’re also scheduled to have starting pitcher Luis Severino and relief option Dellin Betances return right before the post-season rolls around.

 

New York Yankees: When will Luke Voit return to the lineup?

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New York Yankees, Luke Voit

With DJ LeMahieu covering for Luke Voit at first base, the New York Yankees have had to tailor their approach towards winning. The Bombers’ utility man has done a decent job filling in for the injured Voit and Edwin Encarnacion, but his ability to move around the infield and provide players with time to rest was essential before the injuries.

The Yankees have had severe issues with injuries all season, and I imagine the contagion won’t take a minute off from forcing minor league players into starting roles. Lucky enough for manager Aaron Boone, players like Gio Urshela and Cameron Maybin have risen to the occasion.

When will the New York Yankees get their starting first baseman back?

Boone, who stated that the injured Voit could come off the injured list next Friday, is still working through his minor league rehab assignment.

“The way we have it mapped out, there is a chance he could join us that Friday when we start the homestand,” Boone said, according to the NY Post.

Part of keeping players healthy and minimizing fatigue is giving them time off, and forcing a natural second baseman in LeMahieu to play first is not ideal. Success in the playoffs depends on health and consistency, so gaining Voit back should provide a significant boost to the team.

Before Voit hit the IL, he was batting .278 with 19 homers and 54 RBIs. He was/is an integral part of the lineup and team, offering immense power and a supplement to the other power-hitters inconsistencies. With Giancarlo Stanton out and Aaron Judge struggling, Voit’s return will be significant for the continued success of the team.

New York Yankees: Hicks, Voit, and Encarnacion Injury Update

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New York Yankees, Luke Voit

The New York Yankees just sent their 28th man this season to the injured list with Thairo Estrada’s hamstring injury. The following players have missed significant time however have been making recent progress in their rehabbing.

Aaron Hicks

Out with a right flexor strain, Aaron Boone said that Aaron Hicks still won’t throw for another week. However, progress can move quickly after he starts throwing. Boone has said, “He feels normal. He feels good. Again, it’s something we’re trying for, being conservative with because of the close proximity of the UCL, but he’s been responding well to all of his therapy.”

With no major setbacks and all progress with his rehab, Hicks should be set to return around early-to-mid September.

Luke Voit

Luke Voit was sent to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders to complete full workouts and is set to begin playing games tomorrow. Here you can see Voit taking full swings during BP:

Voit mentioned that he is feeling back to 100% and he thinks he won’t need surgery until maybe the offseason. If all goes well in Scranton, Voit could find himself back in pinstripes in the nearing weeks.

Edwin Encarnacion

After being drilled in the hand similar to Aaron Judge’s last season injury, Edwin Encarnacion is still weeks away from beginning baseball activities. He said that he’s “feeling better” however he’s far back in the rehabbing process. Originally being placed on the 10-day injured list, Encarnacion looks like he will return in three-to-five weeks, most likely being a full five.