HOUSTON — The Yankees are in the midst of a youth movement in their lineup, but not necessarily in their rotation.
Randy Vasquez and Jhony Brito have combined to make 17 spot starts this season because of injuries elsewhere, but the duo appears ticketed for the bullpen over the final month unless another need arises.
So far, they have pitched well in that role.
After Vasquez threw two scoreless innings in relief of Carlos Rodon on Friday, Brito one-upped him on Saturday, tossing 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings behind Luis Severino in the Yankees’ 5-4 win at Minute Maid Park.
“Man, he was great,” manager Aaron Boone said of Brito. “Pounding the zone. His sinker was really good tonight and then mixing in his other stuff. He was on the attack. … Just a really impressive outing by him.”
Though Brito had been a starter for almost all of his minor league career, he said he was comfortable with either role.
“Preparation is a little different, of course coming out of the bullpen,” Brito said through an interpreter. “But I feel good out there, so pitching-wise, it feels the same.”
The rotation spot that could have gone to Vasquez or Brito the rest of the way has been grabbed by Michael King, who will make his next start Sunday in hopes of convincing the Yankees he could be a starting option for them next season.
Boone said that it was “possible” Vasquez and Brito could make spot starts later this month, but it did not sound like it was necessarily in the plans.
“Both of them aren’t as built up now, so we’ll just see as the month unfolds,” Boone said.
Gleyber Torres was out of the lineup for a second straight game Saturday after his back locked up on him before Friday’s series opener.
Boone second the second baseman “seems to be better,” but it was not clear whether he would be ready to return by Sunday.
Without Torres to bat third, Boone bumped Jasson Dominguez into that spot Saturday in his second career game.
He insisted it was because of his “obsession” with splitting up his lefties throughout the lineup against right-hander Hunter Brown, but it was clear he felt comfortable with the 20-year-old switch-hitter being able to handle it.
“He’s totally cut out for this,” Boone said.
Estevan Florial has likely run out of chances with the Yankees.
The outfielder, a former top prospect, has been passed over multiple times this season for a promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, including in the past two weeks with the younger Dominguez and Everson Pereira being called up.
“I would say he’s been in that conversation for a lot of the last two months,” Boone said. “Just a couple other guys that right now we feel like we want to look at ahead of him.”
The 25-year-old Florial, who was designated for assignment by the Yankees in April and outrighted to Triple-A, is set to become a minor league free agent this offseason if he is not added back to the 40-man roster.
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