With Anthony Rizzo out for the ALDS with two fractured fingers on his right hand, the Yankees started Oswaldo Cabrera in the Yankees’ 6-5 win over the Royals in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday night at the Stadium.
Cabrera, who went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts, made many nice catches at first base to save some infield errors.
Oswaldo Cabrera has not played too many games at first base for the Yankees in the big leagues. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POSTThe Yankees utilityman ripped a double in the fourth inning that may have driven in a run if Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t the runner as he was forced to stop at third, and the Bombers didn’t score in the inning.
It was just Cabrera’s fifth start at the position in the majors and came after the Yankees debated between Cabrera and Ben Rice versus right-hander Michael Wacha.
Anthony Rizzo was left off of the ALDS roster. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Yankees like Cabrera’s defensive versatility and his ability to switch-hit, and Rice has struggled at the plate for much of his time in the majors.
Cabrera will be counted on significantly at first base after Rizzo had been relied upon to prevent throwing errors by the Yankee infielders, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. shaky at third base and Gleyber Torres occasionally off from second.
