NEW YORK — First baseman Anthony Rizzo is back on the New York Yankees‘ roster for the American League Championship Series against Cleveland, just over two weeks after fracturing two fingers when hit by a pitch.
Right-hander Marcus Stroman also was added Monday by the Yankees, who dropped first baseman Ben Rice and speedy outfielder Duke Ellis.
Cleveland added right-hander Pedro Avila, giving the Guardians 13 pitchers, and dropped outfielder Angel Martinez.
Rizzo, 35, fractured his fourth and fifth fingers on his right hand when hit by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Ryan Borucki on Sept. 28.
A three-time All-Star and a 2016 World Series champion with the Chicago Cubs, he hit .228 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games during an injury-wrecked season. Rizzo missed 62 games with a fractured right forearm after colliding with Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino on June 16. He batted .380 (8-for-21) after returning from the injured list on Sept. 1.
Stroman, 33, was 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA in his first season with the Yankees, making 29 starts and one relief appearance. He slumped to 0-3 with an 8.80 ERA in four September appearances.
Ellis had one pinch-running appearance in the Division Series against Kansas City and Rice didn’t get into a game.
Avila, 27, had a 3.25 ERA in 74⅔ innings over 50 relief appearances for Cleveland, striking out 73 and walking 30.
In his only Division Series appearance, Martínez grounded out as a pinch hitter in Game 3.
