TORONTO — Trent Grisham accumulated more than 500 plate appearances in each of the last three seasons before becoming a Yankee.
On Monday, although he started for the second time in three days, he was in the lineup for only the fourth time in the Yankees’ 17th game of the season, a 3-1 loss to the Blue Jays.
As the Yankees’ fourth outfielder, Grisham has had to adjust to a change of pace this season, although manager Aaron Boone has continued to say he expects the defensively gifted center fielder to play an important role during the year.
“He’s a guy who plays every day, but obviously that’s not the situation (here) and you have to make the most of it,” Boone said before the game at Rogers Centre. “I think from an attitude standpoint and from a work standpoint, it’s been great. Just because you’ve never done it before doesn’t mean you can’t thrive in the role either. It’s the waiting.
“He hasn’t run much yet, but there’s no reason to think he can’t be really useful in a smaller role. But you know that this can inevitably change at any time. »
Grisham went 0-for-2 with a walk and was thrown out trying to steal second base with one out in the fifth inning and Anthony Volpe at the plate.
He is 0 for 10 with two walks and four strikeouts this season.
Grisham was starting Monday because Boone wanted to give Aaron Judge a day at DH during the three-game turf series.
He chose Monday to do so, with left-hander Grisham getting the chance to face right-hander Chris Bassitt and Giancarlo Stanton moving to the bench.
“I didn’t want to have Judge on the mat every three days, especially with a day match after a night match,” Boone said. “And it gives (Grisham) a second start in three days, so hopefully he advances a little bit.”
Astros recorded no hits in the regular season. Charles Wenzelberg
Gerrit Cole threw a 60-foot throw Sunday before taking Monday off.
He is expected to launch again on Tuesday.
“He’s going to continue to throw this week and increase the — he’s already increased the volume a little bit, but I think he’s hitting 75 (feet) and beyond this week,” Boone said.
Volpe singled in the third inning and stole his sixth base of the season. He hit safely in 12 of his 16 games, hitting .373 with a 1.006 OPS. … Ron Marinaccio, recalled from Triple-A on Saturday, pitched two effective innings in relief of Luis Gil. “I like the way he’s taking the fastball more consistently to where he wants to take it,” Boone said.
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