HOUSTON — Aaron Boone is shaking up his lineup again for Game 2 of the ALCS.
Harrison Bader will hit leadoff against Astros lefty Framber Valdez, rookie Oswald Peraza will make his first playoff start at shortstop and Oswaldo Cabrera will return to left field on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park.
Peraza was added to the ALCS roster after being left off the ALDS roster and only appeared as a pinch-runner in Game 1. With him starting Game 2, Isiah Kiner-Falefa will return to the bench after starting Game 1 and collecting one of the Yankees’ five hits. But Kiner-Falefa had been benched in the final two games of the ALDS after some defensive struggles.
Harrison Bader’s recent power surge has landed him atop the Game 2 lineup. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostBader had hit ninth and then seventh through the first six games of the playoffs but earned a jump to the top of the lineup by crushing four home runs, including one in Game 1 off Justin Verlander.
Cabrera, meanwhile, returns to left field for the first time since Game 3 of the ALDS after starting the final two games of that series at shortstop.
Kyle Higashioka will also catch Luis Severino as the Yankees try to even the series before heading back to The Bronx.
