October 12, 2019|12: 26 pm|UpdatedOctober 12, 2019 12: 47 PM
HOUSTON – The Yankees will have some new – but familiar – faces when they begin the ALCS Saturday night against the Astros, as both Aaron Hicks and CC Sabathia were put on the 25 – man roster.
Hicks overcame a flexor strainto make it back after being out since Aug. 3, while Sabathia – in his final season – recovered from a shoulder injury that required a cortisone shot and forced him to miss the ALDS.
Luke Voit and Tyler Wade were left off to make room for the two veterans, and since the Yankees had to activate Hicks from the 60 – day IL, they designated right-hander David Hale for assignment.
How Hicks and Sabathia are used remains to be seen, as Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman have said Hicks could start or come off the bench.
It’s possible he’ll be a late-inning defensive replacement for Giancarlo Stanton.
If Hicks starts in center, Stanton likely will shift from left field to DH, with Brett Gardner sliding over to left. That likely would leave Edwin Encarnacion at first base, DJ LeMahieu at third and Gio Urshela on the bench.
Sabathia, coming off the first regular season relief outing of his career – in addition to one other in the 2011 playoffs – could be used as a multi-inning reliever or against particular lefties.
Here is the Yankees ’full ALCS roster:
Pitchers
Zack Britton
Luis Cessa
Aroldis Chapman
Chad Green
J.A. Happ
Tommy Kahnle
Jonathan Loaisiga
Tyler Lyons
Adam Ottavino
James Paxton
Luis Severino
Masahiro Tanaka
CC Sabathia
Catchers
Austin Romine
Gary Sanchez
Infielders
Edwin Encarnacion
Didi Gregorius
DJ LeMahieu
Gleyber Torres
Gio Urshela
Outfielders
Brett Gardner
Aaron Hicks
Aaron Judge
Cameron Maybin
Giancarlo Stanton
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