Anthony Volpe feasting at the dish at perfect time for Yankees

KANSAS CITY, Mo.— The Yankees knew what to expect from Anthony Volpe defensively heading into October. What they would get from him offensively was more of a wild card. But in the first three postseason games of his career, the shortstop had delivered in both facets to help put the Yankees on the brink of advancing to the ALCS. Beyond Volpe’s defense, which helped save Luke Weaver in the eighth inning of Game 3 against the Royals on Wednesday, he has been putting together quality at-bats to provide a strong presence near the bottom of the lineup. “The whole series [I’ve been impressed],” manager Aaron Boone said Thursday before Game 4 at Kauffman Stadium.

“I feel like he’s been hitting the ball on the button all series and a couple good walks.Really excited.

I thought his work the week leading up to [the ALDS] was really good.His [batting practices], his sim game stuff.

Definitely like where he’s at offensively right now, giving good at-bats.” On Wednesday, that led to reaching base three times on a single and two walks, all on full counts.He led off the fifth inning against Seth Lugo and quickly fell behind 0-2 before battling back to 3-2 and lacing a single up the middle.

He later came in to score on Juan Soto’s sacrifice fly to make it a 2-0 game. Through three games, Volpe had drawn four walks and struck out just once.It marked the first time he had walked four times in a three-game span since late April. “I definitely feel good,” Volpe said.

“I feel like I’m controlling the zone and in a good position to be able to handle mistakes.” Even Volpe’s outs have been encouraging, hitting the ball hard — with everything coming off his bat at 94 mph or higher — including two flyouts to the warning track. Follow The Post’s coverage of the Yankees in the postseason:Volpe spent the regular season mostly in feast-or-famine mode at the plate, either on a hot streak or brutal slump and often no in between.He was scuffling a...