SAN DIEGO _ Clint Frazier got his first postseason start Monday night. With the Rays starting lefthander Blake Snell in Game 1 of the best-of-five games American League Division Series, Yankees manager Aaron Boone went with the young outfielder over the veteran lefty-hitting Brett Gardner.
It was not a hard decision, Boone said.
"Not a lot with the lefty. Clint with his play earned it," Boone said. "I obviously deliberated on it quite a bit before the Cleveland series. As I said before, I think both guys are gonna play a huge role for us. And I don't think that's changed."
Gardner started both games of the AL Wild Card Series in Cleveland, going 3-for-8 with a home run and three RBI.
Frazier got one pinch-hit appearance and struck out in the ALWCS, but he has proven that he can contribute this season.
His defense was a remarkable improvement from a -8 defensive runs saved in 2019 to 2 this season. His UZR went from -5.2 to 1.7.
After being sent to the Alternate Training Site after the opening weekend, Frazier finished the year slashing .267/.294/.511 with eight home runs and 26 RBI. But Frazier struggled down the stretch. In the last five games, Frazier is 2-for-21 with eight strikeouts.
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