— A dreadful 2018 season in a way led to Lewis Brinson’s current spring training home run

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(AP) binge.A key piece in the trade that sent NL MVP Christian Yelich to Milwaukee prior to the 2018 season, Brinson made the Marlins opening-day roster last season in large part because of a strong exhibition season.That turned out to be part of the problem.“It’s hard to have a guy come in from another organization, has a pretty good spring, you know you see things that you don’t like, but when do you broach that subject?” Miami manager Don Mattingly explained. “When a guy fails, that’s when you are able to broach the subject, and to Lewis’ credit he was open to listening as the season went on and then worked on it in the winter.”After hitting .328 during spring training, Brinson managed only a .199 average during his first major league season — and he had to hit .239 over the final month to get the average that high.“He had so many open holes,” Mattingly said. “We’re just trying to close some holes down so he can handle more pitches.”Watching Brinson hit, Mattingly and the Marlins coaches saw a player whose lower body lacked stability. Brinson had a tendency to collapse his lower backside early, throwing his swing off kilter.During the offseason, the 24-year-old Brinson focused on strengthening his lower body and added 15 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame.“The power’s always been there,” Brinson said. “It’s just getting in a good position to hit and being able to get your ‘A’ swing off all the time. When I connect I know have power, I know I have leverage.”Hard spring contact isn’t new for Brinson. He’s never hit lower than .294 in a spring where he’s received at least 20 at-bats, dating back four years.Brinson’s .421 average entering Wednesday’s game against Houston included two multi-homer games.“I think they show the progress you’ve made in the offseason and the hard work that I’ve put in Corey Kluber Jersey ,” Brinson said. “Obviously these games don’t mean a whole lot but for me they do, just showing that I’m ready to compete and ready to solidify my spot.”Mattingly expects Brinson’s progress this summer to resemble his spring statistics more closely.“I think you see a little more solid approach, probably a better understanding of what’s coming,” Mattingly said. “It’s getting ready to happen at the big league level.” Masahiro Tanaka is one of the three candidates to start the New York Yankees‘ wild card game against the Oakland A’s next week.As speculation flies — among J.A. Happ, Luis Severino and Tanaka — manager Aaron Boone hasn’t let the world know who it will be. Could it depend on where the game is played? They know the opponent, but you can’t have any more difference in ballparks than the one between Yankee Stadium and the Oakland Coliseum.Tanaka, who faces the Rays in the third game of a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Trop Wednesday, would have almost a full week off before next Wednesday’s wild card game — and has always benefited from extra rest.Article continues below ...The Yankees used a seven-run third inning to cruise to a 9-2 victory Tuesday night — their 97th win of the season, Severino winning his 19th of the year.New York is 2 1/2 games ahead of Oakland for the AL wild-card home-field advantage after the Athletics lost 10-8 in 11 innings against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.Tanaka, 12-5 with a 3.67 ERA on the season, is coming off a rough start against the Red Sox in New York. He is 3-2 with a 2.53 ERA lifetime against the A’s — 1-1 with a 4.91 in two starts in Oakland.The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA against Tampa Bay this season, 8-3 with a 3.56 in 13 career starts against the Rays, 4-2 with a 4.41 at the Trop.Monday, Boone said, “I think a lot of people have read too much into how Happ is set up right now.“Happ is very much in the picture as a possibility for us and one of those good choices … but how it lines up right now isn’t by design or anything.”Ryne Stanek will be the “opener” for the Rays Wednesday Ricky Vaughn Jersey , with Yonny Chirinos getting the bulk of the work in relief.Meanwhile, there were all kinds of medical updates for the Yankees, who seem to lose a player every day at the very worst time.Didi Gregorius, who suffered torn right wrist cartilage diving into home plate Saturday, continued to feel better and even took grounders — without throwing — Tuesday. He sees the doctor Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone saying, “Hopefully that goes well, and it moves thereafter, but until that happens I think we’re all kind of speculating a little bit.“(Wednesday) is a big day. It’s been exciting to hear that he seems like he’s improving every day and you see the optimism with Didi, but I think he’ll see the doctor and then he can get a bat in his hand and really test it out.”Aaron Hicks, who left Monday’s game with left hamstring tightness, had a successful MRI but will rest at least until the club goes to Boston for the weekend. Boone said, “we feel like we dodged a bullet.”More trouble: Gleyber Torres was scratched Tuesday with tightness in his groin, expected miss just one game. “I thought it was the smart thing to do,” the manager said. “He’ll be available. I don’t think it’s a big deal. He certainly felt like he could have played Michael Brantley Jersey , but I think it’s the right thing to do.”For the Rays, Ji-Man Choi made his debut at first base after playing exclusively as a DH and pinch hitter. But he only got as far as the third inning, leaving the game with concussion-like symptoms and an ear laceration after a collision at home plate with Gary Sanchez. Choi was bloodied and needed stitches in his ear.Before the game, the Rays announced catcher Michael Perez, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 31 with a hamstring injury, will not make it back this week after a setback.“I think Mikie, probably his season has come to an end, which is unfortunate,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Fluke play that happened. And I think we all, himself included, thought he would be back in shorter time. But for whatever reason, (that) hasn’t responded.”C.J. Cron is 3-for-6 (.500), Kevin Kiermaier 7-for-22 (.318) with a home run and Carlos Gomez 3-for-10 (.300) lifetime against Tanaka, while Matt Duffy is 1-for-7 (.143) and Mallex Smith 2-for-11 (.182).