The New York Yankees have defeated the Houston Astros 5-4 to open their season. The Yankees quickly went down 4-0, as the Astros scored three in the first, followed by a home run to start the second. Nestor Cortes settled down after that. In the ninth, the Astros came close to tying the game, but Juan Soto threw out Mauricio Dubon to preserve the win, earning his pinstripes in his first game with the Yankees. This was a great way to start the season for the Yankees, beating one of the top teams in the league. Below are two takeaways from this game for the team to move forward.
Anthony Volpe Should be the Leadoff Hitter
Gleyber Torres is a good player but simply isn’t a leadoff hitter. He went 0-4 with a walk today. To excel, Torres needs to be in a role where he can use his power. This isn’t the role of a leadoff hitter, who needs to see pitches and get on base. Torres tried, but this role limits his abilities. This isn’t the spot for Torres.
Anthony Volpe had a great performance hitting sixth. He went 1-2 with 3 walks, but no runs. This is what the team wants from their leadoff hitter. Get on base four times. The only reason Volpe didn’t score is because nobody behind him could drive him in. If he’s hitting ahead of Soto and Judge that will change. Though it’s only one game, Volpe also had a strong spring training. This is due to the change of his swing during the offseason. The new swing is intended to be more level and make more contact. This as well, focuses on getting on base. With these tools and performances, Volpe should be the leadoff hitter moving forward.
The Yankees Need a Cleanup Hitter
The Yankees scored five runs today, but that number could’ve been much higher. The team left lots of runners on base, and that needs to change. Giancarlo Stanton went 1-5, although his only hit was a weakly hit ground ball that Alex Bregman let roll past him. Stanton has been on the decline for the past couple of seasons, the Yankees need someone to protect Judge in the order. Without a reliable hitter in the four spot, pitchers will pitch around Judge.
There are a few options to fill that spot in-house. Gleyber Torres would be a great candidate. While he lead off today, that should be Volpe, as mentioned above. Anthony Rizzo could fill this role if he can be healthy. Rizzo has done well hitting home runs for the Yankees, but injuries plagued his season last year. If he steps up again, this could be a great role for him.
Two injured players also make great options. DJ LeMahieu could fill this spot. LeMahieu uses all parts of the field while hitting and has a bit of power. Yankees top prospect Jasson Dominguez was phenomenal when called up last season. If he can continue that when he comes back, he may be the ideal candidate. The Yankees just need someone to step up and fill this role.
This was a good showing for the Yankees, and with a few tweaks, the team can have a strong year.
