DETROIT — For the second time in four games, Harrison Bader was out of the Yankees’ lineup on Monday night.
The center fielder, set to become a free agent this offseason, has been terrific defensively but arrived at Comerica Park in the midst of a brutal slump at the plate — 5-for-45 with a .300 OPS over his last 14 games.
But manager Aaron Boone also pointed to the Yankees prioritizing their younger players, with their playoff chances all but extinguished, in explaining his decision to sit Bader. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, also playing on an expiring contract but providing more offensively, started in center field while rookie Everson Pereira started in left field and Oswaldo Cabrera got the nod at third base — two positions where Kiner-Falefa also could have started.
“Again, kind of wanting the priority of getting some younger guys in, too,” Boone said before a 4-1 win over the Tigers. “Kiner’s certainly earned time and deserves to play. So it’s a little bit of that, knowing we have a lefty tomorrow, [Bader] will be back in there. Just picking my spots.”
Boone said he spoke with Bader when they got to the stadium Monday about his decision.
“He’s ready to go for whatever,” said Boone, who used Bader as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning.
The switch-hitting Cabrera, who was spelling Oswald Peraza at third base, started a second consecutive game for the first time in more than two weeks.
He went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI single in addition to making a terrific leaping grab on a line drive in the eighth.
“Just want to get him playing time, too,” Boone said. “Obviously we don’t have a lot of lefties right now, so he’s the one lefty in there tonight for us. But a chance to get him two in a row and try to build some continuity that way. Give Oswald his first day [off] since he’s been up here. Just trying to keep guys engaged, keep guys playing, especially some guys that need to.”
Monday marked the Yankees’ first game against the Tigers this season, though they will play them seven times in a stretch of 10 games.
It will give them a chance to salute future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera, who is set to retire after this season.
“Genius,” Boone said of Cabrera. “I think the smartest hitter I ever got a chance to play with.” I got to play with him in Miami [in 2007] when he was a young player and I was a veteran backing him up essentially. I loved playing with him. I learned a lot from playing with him.
“He is as smart as I’ve ever played with, as far as understanding what a pitcher was trying to do. … Probably about as great a right-handed hitter as we’ve seen. You think of Albert [Pujols] and Miggy in this generation of truly amazing right-handed hitters.”
Anthony Rizzo (post-concussion syndrome) took batting practice Monday and will continue to work out with the Yankees over the next few days before they determine his next step.
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