It's been a tough season at the plate for New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Despite starting out on a pretty solid note with a .737 OPS through the end of April, the stretch since then has been a struggle.
This led to the Yankees giving the beloved first baseman a day out of the lineup to clear his head as the Bronx Bombers look to salvage a game from the weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
MORE: Yankees reveal potential return date for Juan Soto
In Sunday's lineup, Rizzo was replaced by DJ LeMahieu at first base with his typical five-hole spot in the order going to center fielder Trent Grisham—the latter being a questionable choice on its own.
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters before Sunday's game that Rizzo may even get another day off Monday as the Yankees begin a series against the Kansas City Royals.
Anthony Rizzo is out of the lineup today and could possibly sit again tomorrow, Aaron Boone said.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) June 9, 2024
Since the start of May, Rizzo is hitting a paltry .192 with two home runs, 10 RBI and a .514 OPS in 136 plate appearances. He has just seven walks and 17 strikeouts during that span.
The month of June has been even worse. In 29 plate appearances over seven games, Rizzo has just one hit and a .136 OPS.
On top of that, Rizzo has put together some frustrating play in the field, an aspect of his game he typically excels.
With Juan Soto resting a forearm injury, the Yankees need all the help they can get around star Aaron Judge.
Hopefully, this day off can help Rizzo get going. If not, the Yankees may have a tough decision to make at the trade deadline.
For more Yankees coverage, check out Kevin Hickey's work on Sporting News.
