Poll: Should Judge hit leadoff on Opening Day?
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone experimented with his lineup Friday by putting slugger Aaron Judge in the leadoff spot against the Boston Red Sox, possibly foreshadowing what Opening Day might look like.
The lineup, which was supposed to be better suited to hit against left-handers, struggled against Red Sox southpaw Brian Johnson. He shut out the Yankees over 4 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.
Judge, who has never led off a regular-season game, stepped to the plate four times in front of No. 2 hitter Giancarlo Stanton, going 1-for-4 during the game.
There's a chance the Yankees could use the same lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander J.A. Happ next week during their regular-season opener, but does hitting Judge - whose 52 home runs and 114 RBIs both led his team last season - in that spot benefit New York more than batting him farther down the lineup?
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