Yankees' DJ LeMahieu is technically contending for AL batting title (but he’s not he’s paying attention to it)
BUFFALO — DJ LeMahieu heads into this final week of the 2020 season in a dead heat for the American League batting title with Tim Anderson. Before Monday night’s series-opener against the Blue Jays at Sahlen Field, the Yankees' second baseman’s major-league leading batting average was .361, one point higher than the White Sox shortstop’s.
But don’t expect LeMahieu to be scoreboard watching.
“I just, I honestly, I kind of view it more as a distraction,” LeMahieu said, "because you’re kind of worrying about some other people in a game. That’s not even where we’re playing. So, I think if I get caught up in that, or if anyone gets caught up in that, I feel like it usually ends up going backwards.
“So, I just want to finish strong. I want our team to finish strong and finish on top,” LeMahieu said, “like we set out to do.”
Last year he finished eight points behind Anderson for the title, but this year he is making his second charge to become the second player in MLB history to win the title in both leagues, joining Hall of Famer Ed Delahanty. He would be the Yankees' first batting champion since Bernie Williams in 1998.
In 2016, with the Rockies, LeMahieu won the National League batting title with a .348 average that led all of MLB that season.
LeMahieu entered this final week riding a hot bat. He slashed .423/.516/1.038 with 11 hits, four doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and five walks in six games. He came off a season-high, 12-game hitting streak from Sept. 7-9, in which he had 19 hits, 12 for extra-bases, with 12 RBI all while spurring the Yankees to 10 straight wins.
That earned LeMahieu American League Player of the Week honors.
“Obviously, it’s a cool honor. I didn’t expect it or know that was coming out today, but very cool,” LeMahieu said. “It’s a lot of fun and, we had some big games last week, trying to climb out of that hole we were in so you know, it’s good. Good to help the team out too.”
LeMahieu helped the Yankees climb out of the .500 hole they found themselves in the last time they were here at Sahlen Field and to the point where they clinched a playoff spot on Sunday night.
Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays, he scored three runs, two doubles, a home run and five RBI. Along with Luke Voit, the duo became just the second in Major League history to each record at least five RBI in a single game from the first and second spots in the batting order. LeMahieu and Voit joined the Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. and Freddie Freeman, who did it earlier this season.
LeMahieu also homered in three straight games from Tuesday-Thursday for the first time in his career, including a multi-homer game on Wednesday. The two-homer performance was his second of the season.
FINALE FEELING IT
Gerrit Cole will make his final regular season start against the Blue Jays here Tuesday night, finally feeling like himself. His next start will be in the best-of-three games, first-round playoff series.
“It’s been a short season. I think we all know that, but we’ve been able to improve every week and keep trying to get better,” Cole said. “And so it’s putting us in a good position to finish out the regular season and get going for the postseason.”
In his last two starts, Cole pitched to a 0.64 ERA, going seven innings against the Orioles and Blue Jays, striking out a combined 17.
“I think overall, I’m feeling really good," Cole said. "And I think the team is feeling really good as well. I think we have a few more opportunities to continue to sharpen our game and everybody’s going out with the intent on trying to get better, trying to get a little bit sharper, trying to get a little bit more prepared for the postseason.
“So we’re looking forward for the next week or so.”
Backup Kyle Higashioka will catch Cole Tuesday night, according to Boone.
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