Why Aaron Boone gave the Yankees extra rest Monday

Yankees manager Aaron Boone explains why he gave his team a later report time and canceled outdoor batting practice before Monday’s game against the Braves at Yankee Stadium.

NEW YORK — The Yankees had a later-than-usual report time to Yankee Stadium for Monday’s game against the Braves.

And outdoor batting practice was canceled.

What gives?

Manager Aaron Boone said that the organization wanted to force players to rest following Sunday’s 11-1 win over the Red Sox and because of the heat spell that’s hammered the city the last few days.

The Yankees’ win finished at 11:21 p.m. Sunday because it was on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” showcase.

The temperature was expected to reach 97 degrees Monday, according to the National Weather Service. It hit 98 degrees Sunday.

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Here’s what Boone said:

“I think it’s just the late night last night and the heat. Normally, you play a weekend series, and that Sunday is a day game … and especially nowadays. The facilities — and especially our facilities — are so good that guys, we’ve got a couple guys out there doing their infield work right now with (infield coordinator Carlos Mendoza). Guys get the prep they need. We just thought it was a good day to, instead of having it where guys sometimes feel like they need to go to it, not even make it an option. Just we’re off the field today with the heat and the late night last night.”

Here’s what you should know about Monday night’s game, via Yankees PR:

AT A GLANCE: The Yankees continue their six-game homestand tonight with the first of 3G vs. Atlanta (Mon.-Wed.), their final home series before the All-Star break… went 2-1 vs. Boston over the weekend… on Friday, begin an 11-game road trip to finish the “first half”: 3G at Toronto (Fri.-Sun.), 4G at Baltimore (7/9-11, incl. DH on 7/9) and 4G at Cleveland (7/12-15).
>> At 54-27 (.667), have the Majors’ best record… have held sole possession of the Majors’ best record for 14 of the last 17 days (since 6/16)… is the latest in a season they have had sole possession of MLB’s best record since the end of play on 7/27/12 (.606, 60-39).
>> Over the last 60 seasons (since 1959), is their second-best record through the midway point (61-20 in 1998).
 
MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING: The Yankees begin a three-game series tonight against Atlanta, which owns the National League’s best record at 48-34 (.585)… marks their second consecutive series against a team that entered with the best record in its league (Boston had an MLB-best 55-27 record entering Friday).
>> With the Yankees owning the best record in Baseball, this marks the latest in the regular season that the owners of each league’s best record have matched up in Interleague play since 7/23/15 (Kansas City at St. Louis)… is the latest in a season in the Interleague era (since 1997) that the Yankees have matched up in such a series.

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