The Yankees’ top priority this week is wrapping up the division, then trying to secure the American League’s best record.
But not far after that is figuring out what they are going to do in left field come October.
Entering the final week of the regular season, Jasson Dominguez and Alex Verdugo have been mostly splitting time in left field.
Dominguez has hit as many home runs over the last six games as Verdugo has since the All-Star break (two), but Verdugo has proved to be more reliable defensively, which could loom large in the postseason.
“It’s still declaring itself,” manager Aaron Boone said over the weekend. “Trying to keep everyone in the mix, fighting for different spots and different playing time. Feel like we have a lot of really good options and we’re more whole than we’ve been in a long time and that’s a good thing.”
The Yankees have played 13 games since Dominguez was called up from Triple-A on Sept. 9.
In that span, Dominguez has started 10 games (six in left field, four in center field) while Verdugo has started seven, all in left field.
That will likely continue this week, especially if the Yankees are able to wrap up the division early and then get Aaron Judge either a few days off or at DH, which would open center field for Dominguez.
Dominguez had a solid road trip at the plate (a .948 OPS with two steals), but had two rough defensive moments in Seattle, dropping a fly ball in left field and misjudging another in center field as it dropped 10 feet behind him.
In Dominguez’s one-game cameo last month for the Little League Classic, he double-clutched on a throw home in the 10th inning that allowed the Tigers to walk off with a win.
“I feel very good about his ability,” Boone said. “He’s made some mistakes, no question about it. A lot of that’s experience. One of the things he’s missed over the last few years is that experience of playing a ton of games. But he has all the equipment to go out there and do it — speed, arm, all those things that should lend itself to him being a good outfielder. We just gotta keep working to move the needle and make sure he’s continuing to get a little bit better.”
Boone indicated that would play a factor in the ultimate decision, but Dominguez’s potential remains tantalizing, especially from an offensive perspective.
“[He has] the chance to be a real dynamic player offensively as well with his power, his speed, his patience at the plate,” Boone said. “Not everything’s perfect and [not] everyone’s a finished product. You got to work through those things.”
Verdugo had a solid two-week stretch leading into Dominguez’s promotion — batting .333 with an .831 OPS over 15 games — but has cooled off since then, batting 3-for-23 (.130) with a .330 OPS over his last seven games.
But he has been a steady presence defensively and has playoff experience.
Boone may have provided one potential roadmap on Sunday, when he started Dominguez in left field and then replaced him with Verdugo in the bottom of the eighth in a 7-4 game.
John Sterling is set to make his return to the radio booth on Tuesday, reuniting with Suzyn Waldman for the Orioles series as a tuneup before calling the playoffs.
Sterling, 86, retired in April after broadcasting Yankees games for 36 years, but WFAN announced earlier this month he would be coming back for the postseason.