New York Yankees Project Star-Studded Opening-Day Lineup
The New York Yankees have a projected opening-day lineup so stout that a former MVP may bat seventh when they open the season against the Houston Astros on March 28.
At least that’s how MLB.com sees the Yankees’ opening-day starting lineup.
That former MVP would be Giancarlo Stanton, who has admittedly struggled at the plate the past few seasons. He batted .191 last season with 24 home runs and 60 RBI in 101 games. Batting seventh in a stacked order could offer the veteran some protection and opportunity to have a bounce-back season in pinstripes.
Much has been made about where the Yankees will bat Juan Soto, one of three outfielders the Yankees traded for this offseason. In this projection Soto would bat second and play right field. Soto hasn’t won an MVP yet, but the Yankees are hoping he’ll bring his 162-game average of 33 home runs and 100 RBI with him.
That would push Aaron Judge into the third spot in the order. The 2022 American League MVP would also move to center field to accommodate Soto, and batting behind Soto will force opposing teams to pitch carefully to the pair.
This projection has third baseman DJ LeMahieu batting first. The Yankees would love to see a resurgence in getting on base from the veteran. He has a .421 on-base percentage in 2020.
Anthony Rizzo would bat clean-up and play first base after missing half of last season with a concussion and post-concussion symptoms.
After that, second baseman Gleyber Torres would bat fifth, followed by left fielder Alex Vergudo, whom the Yankees acquired from the Boston Red Sox.
After Stanton, shortstop Anthony Volpe — who was a 20/20 player and won a Gold Glove as a rooke last season — would bat eighth, followed by catcher Jose Trevino.
Naturally, Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole would top the rotation.
After him the projected rotation includes Carlos Rodón, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes and Clarke Schmidt. The Yankees signed Stroman as a free agent.
