TAMPA — Gerrit Cole and Logan Webb will match up in The Bronx on March 30.
For the Yankees, though, there is very little lineup certainty beyond that when they begin the season against the Giants.
As the Yankees played Thursday, which was exactly two weeks away from the opener, the only surefire positional bets resided in the corner infield: Anthony Rizzo will play first base, and Josh Donaldson will play third base.
Rizzo’s back temporarily slowed him, but he has been fine since.
Manager Aaron Boone repeatedly has shown faith in Donaldson, whom Boone considers his third baseman.
Jose Trevino likely will be the starting catcher, but Trevino has a sprained wrist that has sidelined him for a week.
The Yankees believe he will return soon, but Kyle Higashioka could start if the problem persists.
Gleyber Torres will be at second base — unless a trade, which has been consistently rumored for a team with a crowded infield, shakes up the roster.
Moving Torres would free up a spot, so both the rising Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza could make the team.
Can Boone imagine a scenario in which both top shortstop prospects break camp with the Yankees?
“You never know,” Boone said Thursday before the Yankees played the Pirates at Steinbrenner Field. “Another hypothetical. We’re two weeks away. I mean, literally a lot can still happen. … We’re obviously very excited about both players and feel like the future is bright for both of them.”
The shortstop battle appears to be whittled down to two, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa viewed as a utilityman.
With each infield spot covered, DJ LeMahieu’s role would depend on Giancarlo Stanton.
If Giancarlo Stanton serves as the designated hitter, LeMahieu would be lined up to sit in Game 1, just as he did in his first season with the Yankees, in 2019.
“I’ve gone in the last five seasons in the exact same spot — it’s the same to me,” LeMahieu said, adding he would not mind if he is out of the lineup and misses the ceremony of the day.
LeMahieu, whose foot bothered him for much of last season, has had a nice spring that included a 410-foot homer Tuesday and “zero issues” with the foot, Boone said.
Still, the Yankees are OK with an infield picture that does not demand 162 games from the 34-year-old.
Their Opening Day outfield will include Aaron Judge, but where?
Judge started his third game in left field Thursday and has played five in right field.
There are no immediate plans to insert Judge back in center during the Grapefruit League, and Boone has said he would be comfortable starting Judge in center in the regular season without any spring reps.
With Harrison Bader sidelined for at least the first few weeks of the season because of a left oblique strain, Judge could be needed in center right away.
Yet, Boone does not want to play Judge every day in center, because he would like to save his best player’s legs.
The Yankees’ other options include Aaron Hicks, Estevan Florial and Rafael Ortega, as well as two wild cards: Oswaldo Cabrera started in center Thursday, while Kiner-Falefa is expected to begin his center field experiment Friday.
“The more versatility we can create,” Boone said. “I can envision a scenario where both those guys are starting with us, plug and play wherever on a given day.”
Cabrera is a part of the left-field competition, too, though Hicks is the favorite to win the job.
The Yankees’ Opening Day right fielder also will hinge on whether Stanton is entrusted in the outfield immediately.
Stanton, who was DH Thursday, has played right field twice in the Grapefruit League, and Boone believes running in the outfield sometimes is better for Stanton’s health.
The short right field in The Bronx makes the position a bit easier to play.
If Stanton is DH, the Yankees could go with the switch-hitting Cabrera or lefty-hitting Ortega in right field to match up against the righty Webb.
Ortega, a strong candidate for an outfield job, would need to be added to the 40-man roster.
Their Opening Day fourth outfielder, like nearly every position at the moment, is up in the air.
