HOUSTON — Aaron Hicks said he will be on the Yankees’ ALCS roster and CC Sabathia anticipated joining Hicks for Saturday’s Game 1 against the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
“I am on the roster,’’ said Hicks, who didn’t know if he would be starting in center field or be a bench player.
Hicks hasn’t played since Aug. 3 because of a right (throwing) flexor tendon problem in the elbow area. Apparently he showed enough in a workout Thursday at Yankee Stadium to instill confidence in the decision makers that the switch-hitting outfielder can help.
Utility player Tyler Wade didn’t have a locker in the Yankees’ clubhouse for Friday’s workout, which was a strong indication he won’t be on the roster that needs to be submitted to MLB by 10 a.m. local time Saturday.
Sabathia wasn’t on the Yankees’ ALDS roster after the left shoulder became cranky following a one-inning relief stint on Sept. 24 against the Rays in St. Petersburg.
Putting Sabathia on the roster could lead the Yankees to carry 13 pitchers instead of the 12 they had for the Twins in the ALDS. If that’s the case, Luke Voit or Cameron Maybin could be vulnerable. If the Yankees carry a dozen pitchers, then lefty reliever Tyler Lyons could be the odd man out.
“Just having that little bit of time, having that extra time off, I’ve been able to feel that much better,’’ Sabathia said. “We’re trying to win a championship. I’ll just have to wait and see how it shakes out [Saturday].’’
Sabathia said he hadn’t discussed what batters he might face with the coaching staff and admitted not being active for the ALDS was difficult.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” said Sabathia, who is looking forward to working in relief. “Any time you just watch and not get a chance to participate, it’s hard. Just sitting in the dugout trying to cheer as loud as I can.
“I think it’s going to be exciting. Any time the phone rings, [it could be you]. I feel good about being able to help the team.’’
With Hicks back, Giancarlo Stanton likely would shift from left field to DH if Hicks starts in center field, which would move Brett Gardner to left. With Boone saying he would be comfortable playing Edwin Encarnacion at first base, there is a possibility DJ LeMahieu could move from first to third and bump Gio Urshela to the bench.
“Staying sharp at three positions,’’ said LeMahieu, who put in work at first, second and third. “I’ll probably play first and I will be ready.’’
Former Yankees great Andy Pettitte visited the Yankees’ clubhouse on Friday.
Like a lot of others who watched Gerrit Cole dominate the Rays in Game 5 of the ALDS on Thursday night, Aaron Boone was impressed.
“I was thinking — he looked like he aged out or something, like check his birth certificate. He’s like the kid still pitching in Little League that was a little too good for the league, you know,’’ Boone said of Cole, who allowed a run and two hits in eight innings and lowered his ALDS two-game ERA to 0.57. “He’s obviously a great pitcher in the prime of his career in a really good stretch right now. Anytime you go up against a guy like that, you know, it’s hard, but it’s also really fun.
“And especially when you have a team like us that is as good as we are offensively and as confident as those guys are, I think they’ll look forward to that challenge and hopefully be able to, when you do get that mistake, hopefully you’re able to take advantage of it because you know those are going to be few and far between.’’
