With Anthony Rizzo out for the ALDS with two fractured fingers on his right hand, the Yankees went with Oswaldo Cabrera to start Game 1 against the Royals on Saturday night.
It was just Cabrera’s fifth start at the position in the majors and came after the Yankees debated between Cabrera and Ben Rice versus right-hander Michael Wacha.
The Yankees like Cabrera’s defensive versatility and his ability to switch-hit, and Rice has struggled at the plate for much of his time in the majors.
Cabrera will be counted on significantly at first base after Rizzo had been relied upon to prevent throwing errors by the Yankee infielders, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. shaky at third base and Gleyber Torres occasionally off from second.