The New York Yankees have made incredible efforts to improve their offense in the offseason.
The time to test if those efforts have been worth the investment is now: the 2024 MLB season is about to start for New York, with enormous expectations after the disastrous 2023 campaign.
The Yankees will be visiting Minute Maid Park to play against their toughest foe of the last decade: the Houston Astros.
The Astros have turned into the Yankees’ nemesis, eliminating them from the playoffs multiple times since 2015.
Now, however, it’s time to write another chapter in history.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has already published their Opening Day lineup:
Our #OpeningDay lineup in Houston. #RepBX pic.twitter.com/vmK5ANLlm9
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 28, 2024
Gleyber Torres will lead off during DJ LeMahieu’s absence due to a bruised right foot.
Then, the most feared duo in baseball will terrorize Framber Valdez and the Astros’ pitching staff: Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
The slimmer Giancarlo Stanton, who looked excellent in spring training, will hit cleanup, and will be followed by Anthony Rizzo.
Rizzo’s 2023 was derailed by a concussion and its consequences, but he is in a much better place now and looks healthy.
Gold Glove shortstop Anthony Volpe will hit sixth: he is a power-speed threat after hitting 21 home runs and stealing 24 bases last year.
The bottom of the lineup looks much better this year, with Alex Verdugo, who came over via trade, hitting seventh.
He will be followed by catcher Jose Trevino and third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera.
They won their place in the Opening Day lineup over Austin Wells and Jon Berti, respectively, but the latter will play a huge role in the Yankees’ season.
Nestor Cortes will be on the mound.
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