Yankees Notes: Anthony Volpe to see time at third, Fernando Cruz resumes throwing

Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared updates during his weekly appearance on the 'Talkin Yanks' podcast. Third base is an area the team still needs to strengthen before the postseason begins. Ryan McMahon has been struggling at the position, reaching a subpar level. The Yankees are likely to face several left-handed pitchers against the Red Sox in the Wild Card round, which may keep McMahon on the bench.

To address this, Boone plans to test Anthony Volpe at third base over the next week, with George Lombard Jr. staying at shortstop. Despite never playing third in the majors, Volpe has spent time there in the minors to improve his versatility. Since returning to the majors, the 25-year-old has shown better performance at the plate, hitting .263 with a .300 OBP and seven RBIs in 11 games.

Fernando Cruz is recovering from a partially torn UCL and was able to throw for the first time this week. An MRI detected the injury in late August, but Cruz is trying to pitch through the injury and return down the stretch. He might need surgery, but his performance could still impact the Yankees' roster as things continue improving.