Baseball managers hate to mess with success, and so far this season, the Yankees have had plenty of it. Entering Friday, they had the second-best record in the American League despite having lost their starting shortstop and catcher to injuries.
Still, as soon as Didi Gregorius, the shortstop, was ready to return, Manager Joe Girardi did not hesitate to insert him into the starting lineup — for the opening of an important series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, even though that meant benching Ronald Torreyes, who has been a more than capable replacement.