Why Yankees’ Aaron Hicks is benched again despite being hot and not hurt

Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks has eight hits in his last 19 at-bats, but hasn’t started two games in a row and three of the last four.

NEW YORK — The lineup that Yankees manager Aaron Boone made out for Friday night’s Subway Series opener at Citi Field once again excluded center fielder Aaron Hicks.

That’s two games in a row and three of four.

Do Yankees enjoy Subway Series games at Citi Field? Not necessarily

And Hicks has been hot of late with a .421 average (8 for 19) in his last six games.

What’s the deal?

First, we asked Hicks if he’s hurt.

“Nope, I’m fine,” the switch-hitter said while hanging out in the Yankees clubhouse before batting practice.

Here’s manager Aaron Boone’s explanation:

“It’s hard to not have him in the lineup. Today, obviously not having our DH, so it’s one of our outfielders who is going to sit. He’ll be back in there (Saturday) I’m sure against (with the Mets starting left-hander Steven) Matz and (there’s) a good chance he’ll be in there Sunday.

“It’s the result of having a lot of good players and right now not having our DH (against the Mets), so somebody’s that’s normally an everyday player has to sit.”  

We understand the Yankees can’t use a designated hitter for this road interleague series, and thus will sit one of their four outfielders every game, but this Friday benching is surprising only because it’s two in a row for Hicks, who also didn’t start Wednesday night in Toronto.

Hicks, who is hitting .253 with six homers and 26 RBIs in 44 games, didn’t start Game 2 of the Yankees’ day-night doubleheader in Detroit on Monday, either. Counting two rainouts last week in Baltimore and Thursday’s day off, he had just four starts in nine days through Friday.

“The other day in Toronto, it was another tough call,” said Boone, who that night sat Hicks while starting Giancarlo Stanton in left, Brett Gardner in center and Gary Sanchez at DH. “But in the three out of four, one of those the doubleheader, so he was going to sit (a game there).

“I think it’s just a spot in the schedule that it kind of got caught like that. He’s fine. It’s a really good player sitting over there (Friday night) for us. After this series when we get back to the DH, he’ll probably be in the next 10 in a row.”

Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.