Juan Soto missed his third consecutive game on Sunday, raising concerns about his availability. However, there is optimism about his return in the near future. Manager Aaron Boone expressed hope that Soto would be back on the right field for Monday’s game in Kansas City.
After the Yankees’ 6-4 victory over the Dodgers, Soto mentioned that he felt okay and had tested his readiness by taking some swings before the game, which he found satisfactory.
Soto’s absence has been notable, as he had previously played in every game this season until experiencing forearm discomfort. Despite his current condition, Boone was reassured that the test results were positive and that there were no major concerns about Soto’s ability to perform baseball activities. Boone emphasized that the decision to play would depend on how Soto felt after the team’s flight.
In Soto’s absence, the Yankees made adjustments to their lineup, with Trent Grisham filling in at center field and Aaron Judge moving from center to right field.
Judge’s performance remained stellar, as he hit another home run in the game against the Dodgers, bringing his total to seven homers in the last ten games and eleven in the past seventeen. Judge also continued his strong record against the Dodgers, with eight home runs in ten career games against them.
The Yankees’ victory over the Dodgers was marked by key moments, including a close play where Judge nearly threw out Shohei Ohtani at home plate on a shallow sacrifice fly.
Additionally, Boone had a heated discussion with home plate umpire Nestor Ceja regarding an interference call involving Kiké Hernández and Jose Trevino. Boone sought clarity on the ruling, as he believed Hernández’s positioning impacted Trevino’s ability to make the play.
Despite the lineup changes and ongoing injuries, the Yankees managed to secure a win and maintain their momentum. The team’s ability to adapt and continue performing well, even with key players like Soto temporarily sidelined, underscores their depth and resilience as they look forward to his hopeful return in the upcoming games.