How Yankees' Matt Carpenter Is Positioning Himself For Postseason Return
In this story:
Rather than returning for the final series of the regular season, slugger Matt Carpenter will spend the next few days working at the Yankees' alternate site, getting ready for the postseason.
New York placed Carpenter on the 60-day injured list on Sunday morning, a retroactive roster move to make room on the 40-man roster after the 36-year-old fractured his foot in early August.
Carpenter's storybook season with the Yankees isn't over, though. As much as he won't add to his stunning regular season stat line—.305/.412/.727 with 15 home runs in 47 games—he's poised to play a role for this club when the postseason begins next week.
The veteran will take the next several days to face other pitchers within the Yankees organization at New York's facility at Double-A Somerset. That means plenty of live at-bats and more baseball activity, getting Carpenter ready for meaningful appearances in the American League Division Series and beyond.
“The biggest thing is we just want him to start getting at-bats,” Boone told reporters on Sunday, including Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media. “Between now and the start of the Division Series when we get back, he should be able to rack up a number of live at-bats.”
MORE:
- Frankie Montas Resumes Throwing, But is Unlikely For ALDS
- 7 Unforeseen Seasons That Helped the Yankees Win the AL East
- Yankees' Clay Holmes Shut Down With Shoulder Sprain; When Will He Pitch Again?
Follow Max Goodman on Twitter (@MaxTGoodman), be sure to bookmark Inside The Pinstripes and check back daily for news, analysis and more.
