Yankees keep Austin Wells in cleanup to start ALDS

Austin Wells' shaky September won't impact his playing time or his spot in the lineup as a cleanup hitter when the Yankees' playoffs begin Saturday night.

Aaron Boone said he won't let a bad stretch affect his thinking about the rookie catcher.

“I just feel like we're seeing a really mature hitter in this little phase,” the Yankees manager said Friday on the eve of the ALDS series against the Royals. “I mean, it's a hit, but I'm going back to the hit we got against (Cionel) Perez (of the Orioles). For me it was the shot of this game that gave us the lead.

“I just feel like he handled this week well. I feel like the week off probably served him well. I feel like he played some good live shots this week. But I have a lot of confidence in the presence he brings there.”

In September, Wells posted an anemic .111/.217/.194 slash line with just four extra-base hits and a dismal OPS of .411.

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The Yankees didn't believe it was a case of wear and tear, even though Wells appeared in 115 games, the most of his pro career.

Wells had said he wasn't tired either and felt he just needed to be better at blocking the pitcher's throws.

“I think at the end of the season I probably tried too much and strayed away from what made me successful,” Wells said.

He added: “I think even in the last week or so my batting skills have been back to where I felt they needed to be. “I feel good.”

Maybe this break can help him too.

The 25-year-old backstop was having a strong year until his problems stopped late.

He was considered one of the candidates for the AL Rookie of the Year award.

He posted an OPS of .936 in August, .941 in July and .769 in June.

Overall, Wells finished the game with 13 home runs, 55 RBIs and a .718 OPS in 354 at-bats, providing a left-handed power bat in the middle of the lineup to separate right-handers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Now a new season begins.

Wells is prepared and expects the stadium to be “very loud and very exciting.”

“I can barely wait for it. I’m thrilled,” he said. “Playoff baseball, let’s go.”

—Additional reporting by Greg Joyce