A pair of key cogs returned to the Yankees’ starting lineup, as Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger were both in there for Sunday afternoon’s series finale in St. Louis.
But Giancarlo Stanton remained out of the lineup for a third consecutive game.
Stanton has not been in the lineup since Wednesday night, when he started in right field for the third game in a row.
The Yankees were off on Thursday, and Stanton did not appear in Friday or Saturday’s wins over the Cardinals.
“A little tougher recovering after the last one,” manager Aaron Boone said before Saturday’s game, according to Newsday, adding that Stanton was dealing with “lower-body stuff.”
Boone said Saturday that Stanton had gotten ready to pinch-hit in Friday’s game without a hitch.
The Yankees have used Stanton, 35, in right field because Aaron Judge remains restricted to DH duty as he recovers from a flexor strain in his right elbow.
Stanton has made five appearances, including four starts, in right field, all of which came on consecutive days from Aug. 9 to Wednesday.
The righty-swinging Stanton, who has a history of lower-body injuries, missed more than two months to begin the season with tennis elbow in both arms.
He has been among the Yankees’ best hitters since then, carrying a .299 average, 12 home runs, 34 RBI and a .949 OPS in 43 games into Sunday.
Judge, meanwhile, has been progressing through a throwing program as he eyes a return to the outfield.
Sunday marked the 11th game in a row in which Judge, 33, was the Yankees’ DH. The reigning American League MVP returned on Aug. 5 after a 10-day stint on the injured list.
Bellinger got the start in right field on Sunday after sitting out of Saturday’s game with an illness. The versatile veteran, 30, started Friday night’s 4-3 win at first base.
Goldschmidt was back in the starting lineup, playing first base, on Sunday for the first time since Tuesday night, when he suffered a low-grade right knee sprain with inflammation.
The injury occurred on a foul pop out in which Goldschmidt overran the ball and had to recover to make the catch. He remained in that game but was unavailable for Wednesday’s.
“I don’t think it’s anything long-term, so that’s good,” Goldschmidt said Wednesday.
Although he did not start either of the first two games in St. Louis, the 37-year-old Goldschmidt entered in the eighth inning of Friday’s win as a defensive replacement. He did not take an at-bat in that game.
Goldschmidt has been at his best against left-handed pitchers, entering Sunday with a .404 average and a 1.191 OPS against lefties.
But Sunday’s return to the lineup came against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas. Yankees catcher Austin Wells sat for the day game after a night game, while Saturday night’s first baseman, Ben Rice, started at catcher.
Anthony Volpe got a rare day off on Sunday, with José Caballero starting at shortstop. Volpe, 24, had started 46 consecutive games.
The Yankees acquired the speedy Caballero before last month’s trade deadline. Caballero has seen time at second base, third base and in right field since then, but Sunday marked his first start at shortstop with the Yankees.
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