Jason Szenes / New York Post

The New York Yankees’ first base situation has been in shambles since Anthony Rizzo injured his fingers days before the AL Division series. He had already missed eight weeks due to an arm fracture before showing signs of a breakout. However, fate had other plans, as Rizzo was dropped from the ALDS roster.

He avoided a season ending injury and his recovery was believed to be on track. Notably, in his absence, Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera took over first base duties and did a fair job. However, with a bigger challenge, i.e., ALCS, on the horizon, Rizzo’s health status remains uncertain as skipper Aaron Boone provided a crucial update.

Anthony Rizzo Stands A Slim Chance For ALCS Roster

Courtesy Somerset Patriots
First baseman Anthony Rizzo’s availability for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians remains uncertain. After suffering a fractured two fingers on his right hand toward the end of the regular season, Rizzo missed the entire AL Division Series (ALDS) against the Kansas City Royals. His absence left a gap at first base, which was covered by Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti. Meanwhile, hours before Game 1, skipper Aaron Boone provided an update on Rizzo’s condition, mentioning that the first baseman began participating in baseball activities in early October and increased his activity level as of Sunday.

However, Aaron Boone was non-committal on whether Anthony Rizzo would be included in the roster for the ALCS, leaving the final decision to be made based on Rizzo’s progress in his recovery and the team’s needs going into the series against the Guardians. Having said that, if Rizzo returns somehow, he would likely take over the starting role at first base, bolstering a lineup that has leaned heavily on players like Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge for offensive production. His powerful hitting could be a crucial addition to the New York Yankees’ offense, especially as they prepare to face Cleveland’s strong pitching staff. Ultimately, while there is optimism around Rizzo’s recovery, it is still uncertain whether he will suit up for Game 1 of the ALCS. Besides Rizzo, Nestor Cortes (elbow strain) also began throwing bullpen sessions, and pitching coach Matt Blake puts him in contention for the ALCS roster.

Yankees Make Rotation Decisions For ALCS

Credit: Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Carlos Rodon has been named Yankees starter for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, giving him an opportunity to redeem himself after a challenging outing in the ALDS. During his previous start against the Royals, Rodon struggled, allowing four runs in the fourth inning after a strong start.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned that there was some internal debate about whether to start Rod0n or Clarke Schmidt, who will now pitch Game 3, with Gerrit Cole set for Game 2. Boone’s decision to stick with Rodon for Game 1 keeps the rotation in order and allows the left-hander to pitch on six days’ rest instead of nine, which could be beneficial for his performance​.