ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — When the Astros visited the Yankees last season, the Bronx was far from welcoming. Yankees diehards were still boiling over Houston’s cheating scandal, and it was the first time they had a chance to let the Astros know how they felt, since the 2020 season was played without fans in the stands. There were plenty of chants with words that won’t be printed on this family-friendly website.
Manager Aaron Boone expects the atmosphere to be intense once again when the Astros arrive at Yankee Stadium for the start of a four-game set starting Thursday. He hopes the vitriol is scaled back a bit, however.
“I hope it’s civil and people are behaving,” Boone told reporters before a 5-4 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field on Wednesday.
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“But there’s no question, any time we get together with the Astros especially over a weekend in the summer months now, it’s going to be intense. But hopefully good, clean, civil (and) fun.”
The Astros will arrive with a big lead in the American League West standings. The Yankees, meanwhile, have the best record in baseball. It could be a preview of the AL Championship Series.
“Another great team,” Boone said. “Should be a fun weekend in New York. Obviously, they’re playing really well. They’re kind of good in every facet. They can hit. They catch the ball well. Great starters, good relief corp. ... (When) Houston comes in, you better play well.”
Said Aaron Judge, ”Another great club. They’re doing well. They’re leading their division as well. I know they’ve got the great pitching staff as well. Great offense with what (Yordan) Alvarez has been doing over there has been fun to watch from afar. We’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a big four-game stretch with them.”
Here are seven more takeaways:
The state of the Yankees: Boone was asked what he learned from the Yankees as they went 4-2 on their six-game road trip to Toronto and Tampa. “I think we keep showing ourselves and everybody that we can win in different ways,” he said. “Whatever the night brings, whatever the game brings, I think they’re really confident they’re going to find a way to win in the end.”
Incoming reliever: Right-hander Albert Abreu will join the Yankees in New York. The team claimed him off waivers from the Royals on Tuesday. It’s unclear who the team will send down to make room for Abreu. Clarke Schmidt, who pitched Tuesday and Wednesday, is a strong candidate.
Latest on Deivi Garcia: The 23-year-old pitching prospect faced hitters at the team’s player development complex on Tuesday. He’s been on the injured list since May 31 and he’s posted an ugly 10.38 ERA in seven starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. “They just wanted to pull him out and let him get a little bit of a reset physically,” pitching coach Matt Blake told NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. “Seems like he’s in an OK spot mentally and physically, but I do think they’re just trying to rework where they’re at with him because he had been struggling a little bit.”
Latest on Domingo German: The right-hander threw three innings, giving up one hit with no strikeouts or walks for Low-A Tampa on Wednesday, his first game action of the season. He threw 39 pitches. It’s unclear if he’ll make his next rehab outing. German didn’t pitch in spring training and was diagnosed with shoulder impingement syndrome.
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Ron Marinaccio’s dominance: Going into Wednesday, Marinaccio hadn’t given up an earned run in his previous nine appearances. He’d struck out 13 hitters in 12 innings. Batters were hitting just .027 against him. What gives? “Trusting my stuff a little bit more,” the Toms River native told NJ Advance Media. “Looking back on some of my outing in the beginning of the year, trying to figure out where I’m running into trouble, and a lot of times it’s pitching out of the zone, running myself into some bad counts, working myself into too many walks. Still seeing a couple of those walks that I want to eliminate. Just a mentality switch of trying to get back into the zone as much as I can and letting my stuff play.”
Issues with the baseball? On Tuesday, MLB issued a memo clarifying instructions on when baseballs should be muddied (all must be done within three hours of the game). Boone said it hadn’t been a big deal for the Yankees. “A little talk here and there,” he said. “I feel like most of the talk I’ve seen has come from other teams that have said some things. So, I don’t think it’s been a huge issue. I know we’ve had random days where maybe it was a little bit different, but it’s probably more of a question for our pitchers. I don’t think it’s been a big issue.”
Ryan Weber sticks around: On Wednesday night, Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre announced that Weber, whom the Yankees had designated for assignment, rejoined the team. Weber pitched a big 3 1/3 innings in relief for the Yankees in a victory Thursday. It was his only big-league appearance of the season, and it came because Luis Severino had been put on the COVID injured list earlier in the day.
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Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected].