Yankees’ Opening Series against Orioles postponed

MLB

by Dan Martin

April 5, 2023 | 2:39 p.m

The Yankees’ game against the Orioles scheduled for Thursday in Baltimore has been postponed due to “inclement weather” forecasts, the Orioles announced Wednesday.

The match will take place on Friday at 3:05 p.m

Michael King started the season with two subpar hits and diminishing speed on his four-seam fastball after missing the second half of last year following elbow surgery.

When asked before Wednesday’s game if he was worried about the right-hander’s health, Aaron Boone paused and said: “It feels good. [Is there] Any suggestions? Maybe, but I think he’s pretty healthy. I think it’s a mechanical thing, timing.”

It’s “something to watch out for,” Boone said, but also noted that King throws his two-seater at her normal speed, which could indicate a possible mechanical problem with the four-seamer.

“I think it would be a very subtle thing,” Boone said of the potential mechanical issues that may have led to King allowing eight hits and walking three innings, while striking out four.

There’s also a chance of a dead arm, especially since King started preseason earlier than most pitchers who have come off an injury last year.

As expected, Aaron Hicks was not in the lineup on Wednesday, but the issue of the outfielder’s harsh treatment by the Yankee Stadium crowd on multiple occasions this season has remained a topic of debate.

“We talked a little bit about that [Tuesday] Bunn said of his conversation with Hicks after the player infuriated the crowd again after another unsuccessful match. “I think he’s over that part of it. I kind of believe it. He knows this is coming.”

Hicks, who’s struck out two consecutive seasons, is 0-for-7 with a walk and three hits this year.

“I think right now, you’re at the beginning of the season and the guys are getting their first priority [hits and RBIs] And get into the rhythm of the season,” Boone said. “I feel like he mostly had a rival at bat there.”

Starting Thursday, the Yankees play their next six games on the road, which could serve Hicks well, but Boone seemed confident it wasn’t a problem.

“I think he’s past that point where it can be a little frustrating and uncomfortable,” Boone said. “He just wants to move forward… The most important thing is to control the moment and [go] Pitch by pitch. I feel like he did a good job the last two weeks of spring training.”

Now that Isiah Kiner-Falefa has added the field to his resume, he said he’ll have to start getting used to the dimensions of all the road stadiums the Yankees go to starting Thursday at Camden Yards in Baltimore.

“[Batting practice] “It won’t be about hitting and catching the ball so much anymore,” said Kiner-Falefa. “I’ll mostly fuck fly balls.”

Carlos Rodon (left forearm strain) was scheduled to face first-time batters on Wednesday. Luis Severino, who came off a tense right winger, played again on Wednesday and will travel with the team to Baltimore. Boone said the right-hander could throw his first action session over the weekend since the injury.

Tommy Canley (right biceps tendinitis) played catch for the first time on Wednesday and reported no problems.

Boone called the difference in DJ LeMahieu’s performance on this season’s panel compared to the latter part of last year “night and day.”

“It was a fluke at the end of last season,” Boone said of the broken right foot that kept LeMahieu out of the playoffs.

And they want to keep him healthy, which is why Boone stressed LeMahieu to take care of his foot in the training room before it becomes a problem.

“One of the things we’ve talked about is making sure he’s doing the soft tissue work, even when he feels good,” Boone said.