Giancarlo Stanton returns to Yankees lineup, replaces Edwin Encarnación at DH
NEW YORK — New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is back.
Stanton will return to the lineup for Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday night after missing the previous three games due to a strained right quadriceps. He is serving as the designated hitter and batting cleanup.
The 29-year-old had gone 2-for-4 with a homer in the Yankees’ 7-0 victory in Game 1. But the team has lost three in a row and finds itself on the brink of elimination against the Houston Astros.
In Games 2-4, the Yankees have gone 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position and stranded 29 runners on base.
Struggling DH Edwin Encarnación was benched in favor of Stanton. Encarnación has gone 1-for-15 in the ALCS with a double, three walks and eight strikeouts.
The Yankees will face Astros righty Justin Verlander in Game 5. New York will counter with lefty James Paxton.
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