Gary Sanchez Returns to Yankees Lineup While Edwin Encarnacion Remains on Bench Ahead of Playoffs

With MLB's postseason just days away, Aaron Boone is surely mulling over what lineup he'll deploy in the New York Yankees' first game of the ALDS.

Well, Friday's card just so happened to feature a surprise inclusion and rattling exclusion. Gary Sanchez, who has been on the shelf since suffering a left groin strain in mid-September against the the Tigers, is batting fifth on Friday for the Bombers.

Edwin Encarnacion, on the other hand, who was scheduled to return today after nursing a strained left oblique for the last two weeks, is on the bench.

We wouldn't read much into Boone's decision to leave Encarnacion out of the lineup. Even though the skipper's original plan was for Edwin to play in all three contests, our guess is that he's giving the vet slugger another day of rest before letting him loose for the final two games against the Rangers to prep for the playoffs.

Yankees fans should certainly tune in tonight to see just how healthy The Kraken looks both behind the dish and up at the plate. The same can be said for the Parrot, should there be a cameo.

Regardless, its reassuring that both sluggers are healthy.