The New York Yankees‘ offense is about to get a crucial reinforcement for the American League Division Series.
Lefty-hitting slugger Matt Carpenter, who suffered a fractured foot stemming from a foul ball in early August, could be ready in time for Game 1 on Tuesday.
At one point, he was expected to miss the postseason with his injury, but he has made some swift recovery in recent days.
Now, he is likely to be on the roster as the Yankees face the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
“‘I fully expect that, he looks great. He’s been getting all his live ABs, he actually took Nestor deep yesterday’ –Aaron Boone on if Matt Carpenter will be on the ALDS roster,” SNY Yankees tweeted this weekend.
"I fully expect that, he looks great. He's been getting all his live ABs, he actually took Nestor deep yesterday"
-Aaron Boone on if Matt Carpenter will be on the ALDS roster pic.twitter.com/0P16nCQ34I
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 9, 2022
That last part is especially encouraging.
Not only is Cortes a lefty, but he is also a very good one, having finished the regular season with a 2.44 ERA.
Carpenter Is Looking Good For The ALDS
The fact that Carpenter hit a home run against him, even if it was “just” live batting practice, has to increase the hopes of seeing Carp.
The slugger definitely made a difference in 2022.
After being released by two different organizations this year, he signed a cheap major league deal with the Yankees in the summer and didn’t look back.
The team helped him retool his swing, and the results were gorgeous: a .305/.412/.727 batting line in 154 plate appearances, with 15 home runs and a 217 wRC+ (the league average is 100!).
If Carpenter recovers at least 70 percent of that form, he would be giving the Yankees a much-needed lefty thumper for the middle of their lineup.
A healthy Carpenter could really make a difference at this point.
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