Stanton Still Hasn't Run and the Yankees Are Running Out of Time

Here's the thing nobody wants to hear: Giancarlo Stanton hasn't even started running yet. The five-time All-Star is stuck on the injured list with a low-grade right calf strain he picked up in the series opener against Houston, and Yankees skipper Aaron Boone is being cautiously optimistic about where this goes next.

The hope, according to Boone, is that Stanton can at least start hitting this weekend. But if he hasn't run? That tells you everything you need to know about where he's at right now. For a 37-year-old who's already battled injuries across his body in recent years, this isn't the kind of news that screams "we'll be fine without him."

A Slugger Who Can't Stay on the Field

Stanton missed a big chunk of the early part of the season before making the Opening Day roster, and now he's right back on the shelf. Through 24 games, he's been slashing .256/.302/.422 with just three home runs and 14 RBIs. That 100 OPS+ isn't carrying the lineup, and losing him to injury only compounds the problem.

The Yankees called up outfielder Jasson Dominguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the hole, but here's the kicker: Dominguez has sat out the last three games with a hand injury of his own. So now you've got two guys in the outfield dealing with injury issues, and the depth is getting tested early.

At Least Will Warren Is Doing His Job

There's one bright spot in the Bronx right now. Will Warren took the mound Friday and delivered, giving up just one run over 6.1 innings while striking out nine Orioles batters in a 7-2 Yankees win. Boone had nothing but praise for the pitcher after the game, calling out his work ethic since spring training.

"The body of work, just from jumping into spring training, has just been excellent over and over again," Boone said about Warren. The pitcher now sits at 4-0 on the season with a 2.39 ERA and 46 strikeouts. If Warren can keep that up, it gives the Yankees something to lean on while Stanton gets healthy.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.