Following two straight wins with the same starting lineup to the ALCS, a new opponent brought a different strategy for Aaron Boone and the Yankees.
And along with it, different results.
1. After benching struggling shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa for the decisive Game 4 and 5 victories over the Guardians in the Division Series, with Boone admitting Kiner-Falefa was “pressing,” the manager reversed course and started him in the team’s 4-2 Game 1 loss Wednesday night. At the same time, Boone benched rookie Oswaldo Cabrera for the first time this postseason.
Boone reasoned prior to the game that he wanted to get Kiner-Falefa, a righty, in the lineup over Cabrera, a lefty, against Astros ace Justin Verlander. The numbers support that: Verlander actually was tougher this season on lefties (.164 batting average against) than on righties (.208).
