Stanton has carried the offense for weeks, hitting .300 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs over his last 30 games. His .586 slugging percentage and .949 OPS in that span have made him indispensable. The team’s record makes the point even sharper: the Yankees are 57–28 in games he starts this season but just 13–15 without him.

The Yankees took a risk playing Stanton in the outfield, where he had not played since 2023 before this. They have to hope he isn’t going to be sidelined any longer as they try to stay in the wild-card battle.

Since July 1, New York has gone 16–21, watching its grip on the division loosen.

 Offensive production has been skittish, and the lineup looks thinner every time Stanton is kept out of the outfield. According to Yankees insider Andy Martino, there’s still no clear timetable for when Judge will be able to throw well enough to return to right field. Until then, Boone has to juggle one of the biggest bats in baseball with the limits of his roster.

That juggling act was clear Saturday.

 Without Bellinger available and Stanton in the lineup, Boone had no way to cover all the gaps. Busch Stadium’s deep outfield makes it nearly impossible to shoehorn Stanton back into right field, leaving the Yankees exposed at a time when they can’t afford another skid.

The Yankees are forced to choose between keeping Stanton’s bat fresh, protecting Judge’s arm, and trying to piece together enough defense and offense to survive a playoff race that suddenly feels more fragile by the day.