Yankees not ready to say who will start at first base in Game 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo.— If Aaron Boone lets the numbers make the decision, the Yankees will start Jon Berti at first base in a second straight playoff game.It’s hard to believe that Boone’s eyes and gut wouldn’t lead him to the same conclusion.But Boone held off on naming a starting first baseman during the travel day before the ALDS shifts to Kauffman Stadium for Game 3 on Wednesday.

The Yankees and Royals split two games in The Bronx.“We’ll see,” Boone said.“It’s kind of one I’m still deliberating on.”In a strangely timed first career start at first base with Anthony Rizzo (two fractured fingers) sidelined, Berti looked smooth defensively as he handled a cutoff throw from right field and started an inning-ending rundown.

He also made a diving catch on a line drive on the edge of the infield grass to turn an unassisted double play.“A lot of nuance to it,” Berti said.“There’s a lot more to [first base] than people probably think.”Add to those plays that Berti is 3-for-5 with a double and a walk in his career off of Game 3 starter Seth Lugo and it would seem that Berti has the upper hand on alternatives Oswaldo Cabrera, who started Game 1, and Ben Rice.

Only Juan Soto (4-for-16) has more hits off of Lugo, a former Met, among the Yankees.Berti only had 66 at-bats during an injury-marred regular season, but he worked 17 pitches across four at-bats in Game 2.His two-out single in the ninth brought Gleyber Torres to the plate with a chance to tie the score.“He looks really comfortable,” Torres said.

“Jon is an awesome athlete.Everybody believes in what he can do for the team, and he showed [Monday] night.” Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+.

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