It sounds like the New York Yankees are still a long way to go from Giancarlo Stanton's return to the lineup.
According to manager Aaron Boone, Stanton did not travel with the team for their four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays this week, instead staying behind in New York. Boone also noted that Stanton has not resumed running since suffering a setback in his injury rehab a few weeks ago, although he still expects him to return later in the season.
"We've been listening to the body," Boone said.
Stanton, 36, played in just 24 games this season before landing on the injured list with a right calf strain, suffering the injury while running the bases on April 24 against the Houston Astros. He eventually progressed towards a running program, but was soon shut down after re-aggravating his calf, effectively bringing him back to square one.
In those 24 games, the slugger hit .256/.302/.422 with six doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI and a 102 wRC+.
This is the last kind of news the Yankees could have wanted on Stanton, as their offense has struggled immensely over the past couple of weeks due to more injuries. Most notably, the Bronx Bombers lost team captain Aaron Judge, their principal bat, to a right rib fracture.
With both Judge and Stanton sidelined, the Yankees have relied on Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. to carry the offense. However, both Rice and Bellinger have fallen into deep slumps after a strong first two months, while Chisholm has struggled to find consistency at the plate over the course of the season.
Having a bat like Stanton, who perpetually carries the threat of a home run at any moment, would transform the Bronx Bombers' batting order with his presence alone. Even when Judge was healthy and the rest of the lineup was producing, Stanton's impact was missed; now with Judge out and other key pieces cooling off, they need him more than ever.
As a result of their offensive woes, alongside erratic pitching performances and surprisingly sloppy defense, the Yankees have lost nine of their last 10 games and now trail the Rays by four games for first place in the AL East. New York will need to find a way to snap out of their funk as they begin their most important series of the season, a four-game set against the Rays in Tropicana Field.
