ARLINGTON, Texas — Matt Carpenter’s possibilities of being on the Yankees’ postseason roster are looking higher.
Carpenter, who has been sidelined since he fractured his left foot by fouling a ball off it during a game in Seattle on Aug. 8, had five at-bats Monday on the team’s alternate site at Double-A Somerset in Bridgewater Township, N.J. Manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday that Carpenter had “definitely put himself in position to be an actual candidate [for the playoffs].”
Carpenter is likely to be checked out simply as a left-handed pinch hitter, but Boone didn’t rule out the 36-year-old having the ability to be greater than only a bench player.
“We’ll see what we now have so far as [playing] the sector goes,’’ Boone said before the Yankees’ doubleheader split. “He’s looking like an actual pinch-hitting option off the bench so long as the remaining of the week goes well.”
The Yankees opted to send Carpenter to Somerset as a substitute of activating him for the ultimate series of the regular season against the Rangers, because he would only have gotten three or 4 pinch-hit appearances.
Carpenter exceeded expectations when he signed with the Yankees after asking for his release from the Rangers in May.
He hit 15 homers and had an OPS of 1.138 in 47 games with the Yankees before the injury.
Andrew Benintendi, one other left-handed hitter picked up by the Yankees midseason, isn’t as far along in his recovery after fracturing the hook of the hamate bone in his right wrist.
Benintendi, acquired in a trade with the Royals in July, hasn’t taken any live at-bats because the injury.
Asked if he may very well be in play for the ALDS, Boone said: “We’ll see. That will need to move pretty quickly. … I wouldn’t rule it out. We’ve just got to see how he progresses.”
Boone said the Yankees face “a tricky call” in the case of whether Aroldis Chapman shall be on the postseason roster.
Every part to find out about Aaron Judge and his chase for the house run record:
He gave the Yankees a reason to think about him within the opening game of a doubleheader Tuesday, striking out two in a scoreless seventh inning in a 5-4 win over the Rangers.
“Today helps, to go on the market and run through the guts of their order,’’ Boone said. “We’ve seen that [type of] outing greater than we’ve seen struggles, however the struggles have been there, as well and you’ll be able to’t discount that.”
Asked about Chapman’s possibilities of pitching within the playoffs, Boone was noncommittal.
“We’ve got to see all we now have,’’ Boone said. “We’ll get through [the regular-season finale Wednesday] and the subsequent couple days and who we’re playing [in the ALDS].”
Chapman had pitched reasonably well since getting back from a left leg infection attributable to a latest tattoo, as he walked three and allowed only one hit over five outings.
But he had crumbled Sunday in The Bronx, walking three and giving up a success in only one-third of an inning against the Orioles.
“That’s considered one of the challenges, how hit and miss that it’s been slightly bit for him,’’ Boone said.
The manager said before the doubleheader that he hoped Chapman “pitches well and builds slightly momentum.”
Giancarlo Stanton homered for a 3rd straight game in Tuesday’s nightcap. … Gleyber Torres, who was scratched from Monday’s lineup with “flu-like symptoms” didn’t play within the doubleheader, but Boone said he is likely to be available Wednesday.
Kyle Higashioka matched his career-high together with his tenth homer. He’s hit three homers with a .975 OPS over his last 14 games.
The catcher said he’s been attempting to hit more line drives.
“Typically, I hit a number of fly balls in my profession,’’ Higashioka said. “When balls were really flying, that was an incredible approach.”
With homers harder to come back by this season, Higashioka said, “I could sit and complain about it or make an adjustment.”
That’s led him to have an easier swing, which has proven to be effective recently.
Greg Weissert was the twenty ninth man for Tuesday’s doubleheader and in addition pitched a scoreless inning within the opener.