When Jose Trevino landed on the injured list July 13 with a quad strain, he and Austin Wells had an even split in playing time — 48 starts each.
In the time since, Wells’ bat has continued to emerge and become too vital a piece for the Yankees to return to that kind of 50-50 platoon when Trevino returns from the injured list, potentially as soon as some time next week.
“I think Austin, where he’s gone here over the last month, six weeks, will probably garner a lot of playing time,” manager Aaron Boone said Thursday before the Angels beat the Yankees 9-4 in their series finale. “That said, I expect Trevy in there quite a bit, too.
“The one thing I want to be mindful of, especially this time of year as we get into mid-August now where I’ve really leaned on Austin heavily — I want to be mindful of that to try to keep him sharp and fresh at the back end of the season and hopefully beyond.
“So Trevy will play some, but Austin’s definitely earned more and more reps.”
The left-handed hitter also has taken over cleanup duties on most days, though he batted fifth Thursday with Giancarlo Stanton hitting fourth against lefty Tyler Anderson.
Wells was already beginning to hit well even before Trevino got injured, batting .306 with a .939 OPS in his last 31 starts (since June 6).
That said, Boone indicated he is not likely to use Wells as a DH on the days Trevino catches.
That is in large part due to the fact that when Stanton does not DH, Boone likes to get Aaron Judge a day there to get him out of center field.
Trevino, meanwhile, ran the bases Thursday and is on track to begin a rehab assignment Sunday or Tuesday (the minor leagues are off on Monday).
DJ LeMahieu may have a runway to prove that his strong last few games are more than just a flash in the pan.
The veteran infielder, who has struggled for most of the season, went 1-for-4 and is now batting 6-for-16 (.375) with two doubles, a home run and nine RBIs over his last four starts since being out of the lineup for five straight games.
And with the Yankees set to face two more lefties in their series against the Rangers this weekend, more starts are on the way.
“I kind of knew what I needed to do. I just couldn’t figure out how to do it,” LeMahieu said before Thursday’s game. “But I think taking a couple days off gave me a little different perspective. Able to look at a few things more closely.
“I had been working on stuff over and over again. It just wasn’t clicking. It was nice to get some results and have just a little sense of positivity of what I’m working on.”
Boone said LeMahieu was continuing to “move the needle.”
“I feel like he’s just a little more balanced through the entire swing, holding his posture well,” Boone said. “Looking more like DJ.”
After going 3-for-19 in his first five games calling Yankee Stadium home, Jazz Chisholm Jr. drilled his first home run in pinstripes with a solo shot off Anderson in the second inning.
Oswaldo Cabrera homered off a 102 mph fastball from Ben Joyce in the ninth inning.
