Kyle Higashioka will start Game 3 over Gary Sanchez

The New York Yankees go with Kyle Higashioka as the ALDS Sport 3 catcher more than Gary Sanchez, producing their assurance amount in Sanchez obvious.

Kyle Higashioka will be the beginning catcher in ALDS Sport 3 for the New York Yankees, proving that their assurance amount in Gary Sanchez has under no circumstances been reduce. Just after likely -for-four with three strikeouts in Sport two, Sanchez will be driving the bench for Sport 3.

#TanakaTime for Sport 3. pic.twitter.com/XLxP46dPbM

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October seven, 2020

This conclusion screams “We do not have faith in Gary Sanchez” additional than everything possibly could. Higashioka got the connect with in Sport one simply because of his good quantities with Gerrit Cole. And when Cole claims “I like throwing to Higashioka,” you permit him throw to Higashioka.

With Sanchez’s start out in Sport two, Yankee followers assumed that they’d see him with every single pitcher besides Cole.

Nevertheless, that is evidently not the circumstance. With the series tied at one-one, Sport 3 is a need to-earn for both of those groups. Prior to 2020, likely with Sanchez in a sport that carries so a great deal bodyweight would be a no-brainer.

Now, supervisor Aaron Boone has confirmed that the beginning catching conclusion will be “day to day”.

Aaron Boone was questioned who is the #one catcher at this level. He said it is “day to day.”

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) October seven, 2020

But with Higashioka in the lineup for Sport 3, it appears fairly obvious who has the edge on the beginning catcher posture.

Higashioka is miles ahead of Sanchez defensively, which isn’t exactly information to Yankee followers. But in the previous, Sanchez’s defensive woes could often be forgiven by his crazy offensive production from the catcher posture.

Sadly for Sanchez, that offensive production has wholly disappeared this yr. He slashed .147/.253/.365 for an OPS of .618. His wRC+ was a measly sixty nine. Defensively he was underwhelming.

In brief, Gary Sanchez was horrible in 2020.

It should not appear as a surprise that Higashioka is acquiring the nod for Sport 3. If neither he nor Sanchez is likely to make on offense, at the very least Higashioka will not value the Yankees the sport defensively.

But it’s nevertheless a shock to see the Yankees effectively confess that they do not have faith in Sanchez right now.