Giancarlo Stanton out of Yankees’ lineup again for Game 3 of ALCS

Giancarlo Stanton missed Game 2 of the ALCS with a quad injury, and he’s not in the Yankees’ lineup again as they face Gerrit Cole in Game 3.

The New York Yankees were close to coming home with a 2-0 series lead in the ALCS, before Astros shortstop Carlos Correa hit a walk-off homer in extra innings. The Bronx Bombers did without outfielder Giancarlo Stanton in Game 2, and he’s out of the lineup again for Tuesday afternoon’s Game 3.

Stanton suffered a right quad injury while running out an infield single in Game 1, and he did not play at all in Game 2. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Stanton will be available off the bench for Game 3, while also adding if this were the regular season Stanton’s injury is significant enough that he’d be going on the injured list.

Stanton missed all but 18 games during the regular season due to a myriad of injuries. So the Yankees are used to being without him, and they’ve managed just fine.

Aaron Hicks will replace Stanton in the New York lineup, in center field, with Brett Gardner shifting over to take Stanton’s typical spot in left as they get set to face Astros’ ace Gerrit Cole.

Perhaps with Yankees’ legend Reggie Jackson’s critique of Stanton (tongue-in-cheek or not) in mind, Boone seemed to jump to the slugger’s defense.

Stanton homered in Game 1. After seeming to not be available at all for Game 2, he seems to be trending the right direction enough to come off the bench if needed in Game 3.

Where things go from there regarding his status is anyone’s guess. But’s safe to assume Stanton will be safely relegated to being a DH if he’s in the starting lineup over what’s left of the ALCS, or he’ll purely provide a power threat off the bench if he’s not starting.