In a move that's already stirring debate among fans and analysts alike, the New York Yankees have reinstated first baseman Ben Rice and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to their starting lineup for Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox. This comes after a controversial benching in the opener on Tuesday, where the Yankees fell 3-1, putting their postseason hopes squarely on the line tonight at Yankee Stadium.
The decision to sit Rice and Chisholm in Game 1 was a calculated risk by manager Aaron Boone, aimed at countering lefty Garrett Crochet's strengths. Rice, the 26-year-old rookie who hit 15 homers in his debut season, and Chisholm, acquired in a midseason trade from Miami and boasting a .247 average with 23 homers, were deemed too vulnerable against the southpaw. Instead, Boone opted for more platoon-friendly options, but the strategy backfired as the offense managed just five hits. Chisholm, visibly frustrated postgame, turned away from reporters, muttering about his surprise at the call—though he later downplayed it as part of the game.
However, with Boston's right-hander Brayan Bello on the mound for Game 2, Boone is flipping the script. Rice slots in at first base, Chisholm returns to second, and even third baseman Ryan McMahon—traded to the Yankees from Colorado in July and hitting .265 since joining—gets the nod over J.D. Davis. McMahon's glove work and timely hits, including a key double in last week's series finale, make him a steady presence. The lineup now features power throughout: Aaron Judge leading off the middle order with his league-leading 52 homers, backed by Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres.
Indeed, this adjustment feels like a reset after the Game 1 stumble. Critics have panned Boone's initial gambit as overly cautious, potentially undermining team morale at a fragile moment. Chisholm's visible ire highlighted the tension, and former Yankee Cameron Maybin called it "unacceptable" on a recent podcast, arguing it sidelined the club's most dynamic bats. Yet Boone dismissed the backlash, saying not every player loves every decision—standard manager speak in high-stakes October.
Moreover, the Yankees' front office projected this 26-man roster with Rice and Chisholm as locks, so their return aligns with preseason expectations. As Game 2 unfolds under the lights, with Carlos Rodón facing Bello, New York needs these young guns to deliver. Rice's lefty pop against righties—slugging .512 in those matchups—could prove pivotal.
Still, in the unpredictable theater of playoff baseball, one has to wonder if this lineup tweak will spark a comeback or merely delay the inevitable for a team that's won just 89 games this year.