TORONTO — The world will get its first look at what’s expected to be a powerful Yankees lineup on Thursday with a familiar face at the top: Brett Gardner.
New manager Aaron Boone opted not to put Aaron Judge in the leadoff spot, a possibility he discussed doing during spring training, and instead has Judge hitting second, followed by Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez and the switch-hitting Aaron Hicks against lefty J.A. Happ.
The three right-handed sluggers — Judge, Stanton and Sanchez — won’t be broken up by a left-handed hitter, due in part to the absence of Greg Bird, who underwent surgery on his right ankle on Tuesday and won’t return until June at the earliest.