NEW YORK - Over the last 10 days at Steinbrenner Field, the anticipation of Opening Day began to build.
Around the clubhouse there were signs posted to remind players of travel schedules and luggage requirements and how to ship their cars to New York, while clubhouse attendants packed up bags and boxed items bound for the Bronx.
And now it's nearly here, Opening Day, with a full house waiting and a familiar chill in the air.
First up, here's the batting order manager Aaron Boone might send out Thursday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers' Opening Day starter Freddy Peralta at Yankee Stadium:
Projected Yankees' Opening Day lineup
- Austin Wells, C
- Aaron Judge, RF
- Cody Bellinger, CF
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
- Anthony Volpe, SS
- Jasson Dominguez, LF
- Ben Rice, DH
- Oswaldo Cabrera, 3B
SP: Carlos Rodon, LHP
How much will the Yankees miss Juan Soto?
Juan Soto flashed across Yankees Universe, but he made an incredible impact.
In 2024, the Yankees scored 142 more runs than in 2023 (when they missed the playoffs) due largely to Soto's presence and Aaron Judge's MVP year.
That offensive dynamic in the 2-3 lineup spots is now part of history, leaving it to Judge and a revamped cast to find its way back to October.
Even with a return to form for Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, the Yankees will rely on Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells (coming off solid spring training camps) to keep moving to that next level at the plate.
A full year of Jazz Chisholm Jr. could provide a needed lineup jolt, but we'll be interested to see how 22-year-old Jasson Dominguez performs in his first full big-league season, with serious questions about his left field play.
Yankees closer Devin Williams vs. his old team
Right off the bat, Devin Williams might get his first save opportunity against his old team.
Williams has been terrific over the past three regular seasons, posting a 1.66 ERA - that's a 252 ERA-plus - in 148 appearances, winning an NL Reliever of the Year award in that span.
Of course, Mets fans will remember how Williams stumbled in the ninth inning of the deciding NL Wild Card Series last year, when a 2-0 Milwaukee lead turned into a 4-2 Mets' clinching win.
Pete Alonso's go-ahead, three-run shot was just the second homer Williams surrendered all year (he was limited to 22 games, delayed while he rehabbed from a back issue) and the first against his famous changeup.
An Opening Day save in his first Yankee appearance, against his former mates, would be a nice introduction in pinstripes.
Yankees' lineup changes vs. Nestor Cortes
Speaking of giving up memorable postseason homers...
Five months ago, Freddie Freeman's game-winning grand slam off Nestor Cortes gave the Dodgers a stunning, World Series Game 1 victory, and a few days later they were celebrating a world championship in the Bronx.
In December, the Cortes was sent to Milwaukee in the Williams trade, and the popular lefty is due to start Saturday's game against his former team.
And that means changing around a Yankees lineup that could be vulnerable against lefties.
Paul Goldschmidt, 37, could find himself batting leadoff for the first time in his MLB career, and perhaps Aaron Judge moves into the No. 3 spot to maintain some right-left balance atop the order.
Ben Rice, JC Escarra and Trent Grisham all had excellent spring training performances at the plate, with plenty of power, but they're all lefty hitters - a dynamic that ought to be addressed before the MLB trade deadline.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees projected Opening Day lineup, last thoughts before 2025 season
