In the high-stakes opener of the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone made a bold move that left one of his stars sidelined. Jazz Chisholm Jr., the dynamic infielder acquired in a midseason trade last year, found himself on the bench for Game 1 on Tuesday night. The Yankees dropped a tight 3-1 decision, and Chisholm's absence sparked immediate questions about lineup choices at a time when every at-bat counts.
Boone cited matchup concerns as the rationale, opting instead for veteran Amed Rosario at second base. Chisholm, batting .247 with 24 home runs and 32 stolen bases this season, had been a fixture in the lineup, but his recent slump against right-handers like Red Sox starter Tanner Houck apparently tipped the scales. It's the kind of calculated risk that defines playoff baseball, yet it didn't sit well with the Bahamian speedster, who later turned his back on reporters in the clubhouse, muttering that he saw the game "how I look at it"—a clear sign of simmering discontent.
Moreover, this decision echoes ongoing debates about the Yankees' infield stability. Back in July 2024, rumors swirled around potential moves for Colorado's Ryan McMahon, a slick-fielding third baseman with pop, as New York sought to shore up their hot corner amid injuries. Though those talks fizzled, Boone's tinkering with Chisholm—shifting him between second and third all year—highlights the manager's willingness to juggle pieces. Chisholm started 28 straight games at third before reverting to second earlier this summer, a flexibility that's both asset and headache.
However, Boone wasted no time adjusting. For Game 2 on Wednesday, Chisholm returns to the starting nine alongside first baseman Ben Rice, who also sat out the opener. The Yankees, clinging to their postseason lives after that Game 1 loss, need Chisholm's energy to even the series. His All-Star flair could prove pivotal against Boston's lefty, but the underlying tension raises eyebrows about clubhouse harmony under Boone's steady, if sometimes polarizing, hand.
Indeed, as the playoffs unfold, one can't help but wonder if these lineup gambles will define the Yankees' October fate or fracture their momentum just when unity matters most.