How replaceable is Cameron Maybin?
It came down to that question on Thursday night. The verdict: not particularly replaceable.
The Yankees rightly recognized that sometimes, analytics principles must be sacrificed for the greater good.
After they outlasted the dangerous Astros, 10-6 at a rainy Yankee Stadium — a dollop of revenge following Houston’s three-game sweep at Minute Maid Park back in April — the Yankees optioned winning pitcher Nestor Cortes Jr. to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, thereby creating room for Maybin even as Aaron Judge (oblique) returns from the injured list on Friday. The Yankees will go with 12 pitchers for now even as most analytically inclined clubs prefer to have 13.