Giancarlo Stanton is not in the New York Yankees' starting lineup against Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander for Game 2 of the AL Championship Series.
Cameron Maybin was starting in left field instead and hitting seventh on the lineup posted by the Yankees before Sunday night's game. Stanton, the 2017 NL MVP, homered against Zack Greinke during a Game 1 victory Saturday.
New York didn't immediately specify whether Stanton was held out due to health or for matchup concerns. The big right-handed hitter missed most of the regular season with injuries, including a strained ligament in his right knee that was still limiting his workload near the end of the regular season.
Stanton has one hit — a homer — and five strikeouts in nine plate appearances against Verlander.
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