TORONTO — Aaron Judge wasn’t in Aaron Boone’s starting lineup Tuesday night and it didn’t have anything to do with him striking out a record eight times in Monday’s doubleheader in Detroit.
“I talked to him about this before we went on the road trip, the stretch of games we are in and the doubleheader. We rode him in the doubleheader,’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ 7-2 win over the Blue Jays. “I felt [Tuesday], we got in late, on the turf and we leaned on him a lot. I think I gave him one day off and he came into the game that day.’’
Judge didn’t start on April 30 but appeared as a pinch hitter.
Boone didn’t start Judge against Blue Jays right-hander Marco Estrada despite Judge being 8-for-20 (.400) with two homers against him.
Conversely, Brett Gardner was 6-for-44 (.136) against Estrada and led off.

“I used to get the numbers in the booth and say, ‘This guy is 6-for-20 but what does that mean?’’ Boone said. “Usually it’s not a good representation of the future. We know it all goes into the cake when deciding certain things.’’

Didi Gregorius started the season with 18 career stolen bases, but lately he has turned into an accomplished base stealer. He has a steal in each of the past four games he has started and is 8-for-10.
“I talked to Boone and we talked about leads and using my speed,’’ said Gregorius, who was caught breaking for second in the eighth inning but got to second so quickly there was no throw by first baseman Justin Smoak. “It’s one more thing to get better [at].’’

The University of Florida has an extra baseball scholarship to give out since catcher Anthony Seigler doesn’t need it.

“There is no doubt I am going to sign with the Yankees,’’ the first-round pick said. “This is a no-brainer for me.’’

Seigler, a switch-hitting catcher from Cartersville, Ga. who can also throw with each arm, is anxious to meet Sanchez.

“Gary is a great player and hopefully I can get up there and pick his brain,’’ said Seigler, who plans on cutting his long hair before reporting to Tampa.