ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When the Yankees’ lineup was posted on the clubhouse wall early Saturday afternoon and had Edwin Encarnacion hitting fifth and Didi Gregorius on the bench, it was just the latest different lineup manager Aaron Boone has filled out this season.
According to the Yankees, it was the 86th different lineup in 87 games — Encarnacion had batted fifth in eight games since coming from Seattle, and Gregorius had played in all of them.
“A lot of the time, you start with the lefties and the switch-hitters you have,’’ Boone said when asked what goes into the construction of the lineup. “What could determine sometimes is their pen, who you are facing and trying to eliminate easy lanes the best you can.’’
In the not-so-distant past, how a hitter did against a certain pitcher was a factor in what the lineup looked like. But with so much more data available, that isn’t looked at like it was.
“I would say, very little head to head. It is more what you project this matchup,’’ Boone explained. “That may go into some of our regulars, what day do I want to get them [off]. I know I am going to give them a day in the next six days. What day makes the most sense? You try and project what matchups. But there are so many other things that throw a wrench in all the plans you make.’’
Lost in the way Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to the Rays ended was the latest solid game by Brett Gardner, who went 1-for-2 with a homer, walked twice and stole two bases. It was Gardner’s 14th homer and second in as many games.
In Gardner’s past seven starts, he is hitting .346 (9-for-26) with three homers and eight RBIs. He hit three homers in the previous 26 games.
Gardner’s second-inning solo homer and Aaron Hicks’ blast in the ninth gave the Yankees 35 homers in the past 36 games.
The loss ended the Yankees’ six-game winning streak against the Rays, whom they are 9-3 against this season.
After Nestor Cortes Jr. and David Hale combined to throw four innings in Friday night’s 8-4 win over the Rays in 11 innings, the Yankees elevated lefty Daniel Camarena from Triple-A Scranton/Wailkes-Barre on Saturday. To make room on the 25-man roster, the Yankees optioned first baseman Mike Ford to SWB.
Camarena, 27, was 3-3 with a 6.00 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) for SWB. Originally taken in the 20th round of the 2011 draft by the Yankees, Camarena has a 33-44 record and a 4.17 ERA in seven minor league seasons. He has pitched in 144 minor league games, making 128 starts, and has never worked a big league game.
“We needed a guy to give us length if we have a situation,’’ Boone said of Camarena’s promotion. “He was scheduled to start [Saturday] and is a starter and built up that way. If we have a situation, he is a guy who can give us significant length.’’
Luke Voit is hoping he can come off the IL on Friday when play resumes after the All-Star break.
“It’s going well, he is doing well. Whether it is the first day back, we will see how the break unfolds,’’ Boone said of Voit, who hasn’t played since June 29 due to a lower left abdominal problem. “I would expect it to be close to that.’’
