Rick Renteria is letting Yoan Moncada hit his way out of a slump that has seen his batting average drop 21 points since the All-Star break, falling to .217.
Moncada has struck out 20 times in his last 38 plate appearances and is on pace for 233 strikeouts, the most in history. But Renteria is hitting him leadoff tonight against the Yankees’ Luis Severino, who opposes Lucas Giolito.
Moncada took four called-third strikes Thursday against the Royals, two on Monday against the Yankees and one more on Tuesday, but Renteria isn’t complaining about the lack of aggressiveness.