Where the Yankees’ first base situation stands before Game 1 of the NLCS

The Yankees have not yet made a decision on Anthony Rizzo’s availability for the ALCS as the first baseman is receiving treatment for a broken finger he suffered just a day before the end of the regular season.

But somewhat surprisingly, they barely missed him against the Royals in the ALDS, as Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti played like veterans in the spot, despite having little to no experience at first base, and contributed.

If Rizzo stays in the ALCS, the situation at first base Saturday will continue to be a “fluid” situation, Aaron Boone said.

That means more time for Cabrera and Berti, both of whom have played so little at the spot that they each use someone else’s first baseman’s glove.

Cabrera still has DJ LeMahieu’s glove, and Berti said Saturday that while he has had one in the past, he has misplaced it and is using the glove of Brett Weber, the team’s director of advance scouting and assistant coach.

“It’s the first one I’ve tried,” said Berti. “And I really liked it.”

Ben Rice, who was on the ALDS roster and never came off the bench, could be another option there, but he has looked worse than the other backups both offensively and defensively for most of the season.

“I definitely like what I saw [Cabrera] “And Berti in the first season, who plays a nice role for us,” Boone said.

And an important point in a series where runs were at the forefront and defense was therefore crucial.

Cabrera started just four games at first base in the majors before the ALDS and Berti none.

Both players praised Rizzo for his support, but there is no substitute for experience, as Berti described in a Zoom call from the stadium where the Yankees practiced Saturday.

“It’s a lot harder than I think people think,” Berti said of playing first base. “I said it [Rizzo] that recently. There’s a lot to it, a lot of different positioning, a lot of different things around the bag that you have to keep an eye on at all times.”

When asked about the most challenging play he faced in the ALDS, Berti pointed not to the diving play he made to his left to end the top of the sixth in Game 2 in the Bronx, but to the double play he made started in Game 4 in Kansas City. when he grabbed a grounder from Michael Massey and had to make a strong throw to second for the double play.

But that was just one of the challenges Berti and Cabrera faced as both started two games in the ALDS.

“It’s just a matter of learning every single part of it,” Berti said. “Keeping runners on base, different footwork around the bag, understanding ground ball situations and you have to get to the bag unless you’re involved. If a ball is hit to your right, you need to know where the second baseman is at all times.”

Berti will take it.

He spent most of spring training with the Marlins before a three-team trade with the Rays brought him to the Yankees in exchange for catcher Ben Rortvedt after LeMahieu was sidelined with an injury.

Berti then spent much of the season on the IL, first with a groin strain, then a calf strain, but he returned at the end of the year and Rizzo’s injury has put him in a crucial situation.

“It was a wild year from day one,” Berti said. “From the change to injuries to the comeback, it was worth being here and contributing in big games.”