Six months ago, Joe Girardi deleted Jacoby Ellsbury from the lineup and used Chris Young against Dallas Keuchel in the AL wild-card game.
That the Yankees were blanked, 3-0, by the stylish lefty didn’t scare Girardi away from a similar plan for Tuesday’s rain-delayed Opening Day game against the Astros, who will start the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner at Yankee Stadium.
Girardi had the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks pegged to play left field instead of the lefty-swinging Brett Gardner, before Monday’s Opening Day tilt was called early in the morning due to rain.