Even with former All-Star catcher Jose Trevino returning from a lengthy injury absence last week, Aaron Boone expects Austin Wells to get “the bulk” of the starts behind the plate down the stretch for the Yankees.
Boone acknowledged he could employ a loose platoon among the two catchers, but he said he’s “totally comfortable” starting the lefty-swinging Wells against left-handed pitching.
The righty-swinging Trevino, who missed five weeks with a quad injury before returning Aug. 16, was in the lineup Tuesday night against Guardians southpaw Matthew Boyd.
“I think we’re going through a stretch right now where, obviously, we’re playing [against] a lot of lefties. But I feel totally comfortable with Austin against left-handed pitching, as well,” Boone said before the Yankees’ 9-5, 12-inning loss to the Guardians on Tuesday night at the Stadium. “I feel like he’s really starting to establish himself in that way, too.”
Entering Tuesday, Wells posted a .797 OPS with all of his nine home runs this season against right-handed pitching, but just a .565 OPS in 47 plate appearances against lefties.
Trevino, a first-time All-Star in 2022, entered Tuesday with four homers and a .687 OPS in 82 plate appearances against lefties.
The Guardians started lefty Joey Cantillo on Wednesday.
Trevino started the game and walked three times and scored a run.
Austin Wells entered the game later as a pinch hitter and went 1-for-2.
“I’ve talked to even Austin about this, it’s like Trevy’s really good and really holds his own at the plate and gives us something against the left-handed pitcher,” Boone added, before Cleveland announced Cantillo as Wednesday’s starter. “So it could work out that way, to where Trevy sees the lefties and Austin sees the righties. And in a given week, that means one guy’s playing a lot. Right now, I think [Cleveland has] a lefty going [Wednesday], and it’ll probably be Austin in there.
“But over the bulk of it, I see Wells playing more, just because typically you’re going to face more right-handed pitchers, obviously. … So it just depends on the lefty, where we’re at, and I’ll kind of make those decisions as I go. But both will play, with probably Austin playing a little bit more.”
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