ARLINGTON, Texas — Playing DJ LeMahieu at first base in the ALDS against the Twins gives manager Aaron Boone his best defensive infield.
What the means for the slumping Luke Voit is unclear. At best, Voit would become a bench player. At worst, the right-handed hitter could be left off the 25-man roster for the best-of-five series.
If Edwin Encarnacion is healthy enough to be the designated hitter — something Boone believes will happen, though he likely won’t have seen a big league pitch since Sept. 12 — and LeMahieu is the first baseman, the Yankees will have to decide to carry Voit’s frigid bat at the expense of having a 13th pitcher or not taking first baseman Mike Ford’s productive left-handed bat off the bench.