With DJ LeMahieu on the verge of beginning a rehab assignment, his replacement is staying hot.
Oswaldo Cabrera picked up two more hits on Sunday, including an RBI single in the four-run fifth inning that keyed the Yankees’ 5-4 win over the Rays in The Bronx.
The third baseman is now hitting .303 with a .838 OPS in 18 games this season along with 14 RBIs, good for the second-most on the team behind Juan Soto.
Cabrera has been even better with runners in scoring position, batting .429 with a 1.028 OPS.
LeMahieu is now expected to begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday with Double-A Somerset, after being pushed back a few days because doctors wanted to let his non-displaced fracture heal a little more.
But manager Aaron Boone wasn’t getting ahead of himself when asked how Cabrera would fit in once LeMahieu returns.
“Long way to go,” Boone said. “I look forward to hopefully having that problem. The biggest thing right now is Oswaldo’s obviously playing a key role for us and doing a great job. Excited about where DJ is health-wise and getting ready to go on that rehab assignment. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Gleyber Torres went down in pain in the first inning after fouling a ball off his lower left leg — the same area he hit a foul off a few days ago — but eventually got to his feet and stayed in the game.
“The way he went down, I was a little nervous that he was going to have to come out,” Boone said. “But as he got going a little bit, I think it softened up on him.”
Tommy Kahnle (shoulder) is nearing his second go-around at throwing live batting practice.
After not bouncing back well from a live session in late March, the reliever is one bullpen session away from advancing to facing hitters again.
“I actually was texting with Tommy two days ago and he’s pretty excited about where he’s at now physically,” Boone said. “He feels like he’s getting to where he needs to be, which hopefully is a good sign here.”
Lou Trivino, rehabbing from UCL surgery, is “doing really well” and “a couple weeks away” from graduating to live batting practice,” Boone said.
Scott Effross, meanwhile, still has farther to go.
The reliever, who was rehabbing Tommy John surgery when he underwent back surgery in December, is still just playing catch after having “minor little hiccups” during his throwing progression.
“He’s doing pretty well but little behind those guys,” Boone said.
Oswald Peraza (shoulder strain) is still a couple weeks away from playing in rehab games, Boone said, but he is “deep into his throwing progression” and hitting.
Soto left the clubhouse Sunday wearing an Artemi Panarin Rangers jersey. … Giancarlo Stanton hit cleanup against a right-hander Sunday for the first time this season. Boone said it was because Rays starter Aaron Civale had reverse splits, with right-handed hitters historically hitting better against him. Stanton went 0-for-2 with two walks.
