SEATTLE — After starting 139 straight games, Anthony Volpe got his second day off in the past eight games on Tuesday.
The Yankees’ streaky shortstop was on the bench to start Tuesday’s series opener against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park, getting another breather entering the final two weeks of the regular season.
Oswaldo Cabrera started at shortstop against right-hander Bryan Woo, as manager Aaron Boone tried to keep the utilityman sharp and get as many left-handed hitters as possible into the lineup against a pitcher that is especially tough on righties.
For most of the season, though, regardless of the opposing starter, Volpe had been a mainstay in the lineup — which is much deeper and better when he is rolling.
But Volpe has been scuffling of late at the plate, the latest swing in an up-and-down season offensively — though his defense at a critical position has continued to be strong, and he has played the second-most innings of any player in the majors, trailing only Braves first baseman Matt Olson.
Volpe, 23, entered Tuesday 4-for-37 with one walk and 12 strikeouts over his past 11 games, which left him batting .246 with a .664 OPS through 149 games this year (he has appeared in all but one of the Yankees games).
Volpe’s season at the plate has mostly been feast or famine, alternating between hot and cold stretches as he continues his development at the big league level.
After posting a 20/20 rookie season — in which his .666 OPS was the sixth-lowest among qualified hitters — he made offseason adjustments to his swing to get back to the all-fields hitter he was in the minors.
That paid immediate dividends, though it has not been a cure-all over the course of a long season.
“I’m confident he’ll work through it,” Boone said Tuesday before the series began. “He’s been clearly up and down from that standpoint throughout the season. He’s made some noticeable adjustments over the winter and into the season that’s had some good results, but he’s had some struggles with it, too. I do feel like it’s on his way to being a complete product — whenever that is — as an offensive player.
“But I feel like he can work through this and hopefully get on a good note going into what we hope is October baseball and beyond.”
Despite the inconsistency at the plate, Volpe’s defense has continued to be rock-solid for the Yankees, providing them strong value.
Entering Tuesday, his 15 Outs Above Average ranked fourth among all shortstops.
He has also been the Yankees’ best baserunner — especially before the addition of Jazz Chisholm Jr. — swiping 26 bags on the season.
Volpe’s ability to get on base to be a threat to steal those bases, though, has fluctuated.
“I feel like physically, for as much as he has played at such a demanding position, he’s very much held up,” Boone said. “Mentally, he’s one of the handful of guys I don’t worry about handling whatever’s going on in the season, ups and downs. And obviously how important he is to us, to our defense, in the middle of the diamond.
“But there’s always some benefits this time of year in getting a day off your feet, especially coming out of the off day.”