Another game, another starting shortstop.
The Yankees’ shortstop merry-go-round continued on Saturday, as they started a third different player at the position through the first three games of the ALCS. Oswaldo Cabrera got the latest turn there for the 5-0 Game 3 loss to the Astros in The Bronx after Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswald Peraza started the first two games at short.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time a team started a different shortstop in three straight postseason games within the same series since the 2012 Yankees in the ALCS. That year, Derek Jeter broke his ankle in Game 1 and the Yankees followed by starting Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nuñez in the next two games.
The last time a team started a different shortstop in three straight playoff games spanning different series was the 2017 Dodgers (per Elias), who were also compensating for an injury, to Corey Seager.
The Yankees are not shuffling their shortstops because of injuries this October, but since Kiner-Falefa was benched during the ALDS because of his defensive struggles, manager Aaron Boone has based his starter on offensive matchups with the opposing pitcher.
“I just really wanted to get the third lefty at-bat in there today against [Cristian] Javier, who’s a pretty extreme — he’s had a great year against both, but he’s especially tough on righties,” Boone said in explaining his decision to start the switch-hitting Cabrera at shortstop on Saturday. Cabrera was 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
After Kiner-Falefa started 131 of 162 regular-season games at shortstop, the position has been in flux for most of the postseason. Kiner-Falefa started the first three games of the ALDS before his fielding woes finally forced the Yankees to bench him and start Cabrera for the final two games against the Guardians.
Kiner-Falefa was back at shortstop for Game 1 of the ALCS because Boone wanted more righty bats against Justin Verlander. The defensively superior Peraza — who was not even on the ALDS roster — then got the nod in Game 2, with Boone saying he wanted the rookie’s bat in the lineup to combat Astros ground ball specialist Framber Valdez.
Cabrera, meanwhile, has continued to bounce around the field depending on the Yankees’ needs. He only started three games at shortstop after being called up for his MLB debut in August — in addition to 38 more starts at four other positions — but Boone said he liked him anywhere.
“We view him solid everywhere in the infield, wherever you play him,” Boone said. “He’s comfortable wherever you put him, and he’s shown that he’s now comfortable even when we put him in the outfield as well. So wherever we have Oswaldo I feel good about it.”