NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Rizzo was back in the New York Yankees' lineup for Monday night's AL Championship Series opener against Cleveland, just 16 days after fracturing a pair of fingers when hit by a pitch.
Rizzo was batting seventh and playing first base against the Guardians after missing the Division Series against Kansas City.
“It’s just pain,” Rizzo said. “It’s temporary, and the 50,000 people in the stands and the adrenaline and what’s at stake is going to outweigh any pain I’ll be feeling.”
Rizzo fractured his fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Sept. 28.
A three-time All-Star and a 2016 World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs, the 35-year-old hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games during an injury-wrecked season. Rizzo missed 62 games with a fractured right forearm after colliding with Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino on June 16. He batted .380 (8 for 21) after returning from the injured list on Sept. 1.
Rizzo wouldn't say whether he'd be playing if this were the regular season.
“This is Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, so the hypothetical there isn’t there,” he said. “I don’t know what that answer would be.”
Rizzo hasn’t hit off live pitching, only machines. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he was comforted by the return of a four-time Gold Glove winner.
“Yesterday with me, he was pretty adamant. He goes, ‘I’m ready,’” Boone said, “He’s looked good in the field, like no issues. ... The trainers feel like he's at a good spot."
Rizzo helped lead the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.
“I’ve had opportunity throughout my career to play a good amount of postseason baseball, and this is what you play for,” he said. “The clock is only ticking on my age and getting older. You just never know when you’re going to have an opportunity to play for a pennant again, ever again. You can’t take any of this for granted.”
Rizzo had watched from the bench during the Division Series and given tips on positioning to Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera, who started two games each.
“To be on the bench, it’s more stressful than playing,” he said. “It’s really hard to control your emotions on the bench than it is when you play.”
Right-hander Marcus Stroman also was added by the Yankees, who dropped first baseman Ben Rice and speedy outfielder Duke Ellis from their roster.
Ellis had one pinch-running appearance in the Division Series against Kansas City and Rice didn’t get into a game.
Cleveland added right-hander Pedro Avila, giving the Guardians 13 pitchers, and dropped outfielder Angel Martínez.
Stroman was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in his first season with the Yankees, making 29 starts and one relief appearance. The 33-year-old slumped to 0-3 with an 8.80 ERA in four September appearances.
Nestor Cortes update
Sidelined by a strained left elbow flexor since Sept. 18, the 29-year-old left-hander threw his first bullpen session Sunday. He is scheduled to throw another bullpen Wednesday and, if he continues to progress, batting practice by the weekend. Boone said if “everything continues to move and we’re able to advance, (that) will put him in play.”
Guardians' changes
Avila, 27, had a 3.25 ERA in 74 2/3 innings over 50 relief appearances for Cleveland, striking out 73 and walking 30. Guardians relievers pitched 25 2/3 innings out of a possible 44 innings in the five-game Division Series against Detroit. In his only Division Series appearance, Martínez grounded out as a pinch-hitter in Game 3.
Left-hander Ben Lively, Cleveland's winningest pitcher at 13-10, remains off the roster.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
