In a surprising pivot just days into the postseason, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has slotted young first baseman Ben Rice into the lineup for Thursday's decisive Game 3 against the Boston Red Sox, opting against the veteran Paul Goldschmidt despite the matchup against a left-handed starter. This comes after Boone's earlier declaration that Goldschmidt would handle every lefty faced in the series—a plan that held for the opener but faltered amid Rice's steady emergence throughout the year.
Rice, the 26-year-old breakout star from Cohasset, Massachusetts, has been a revelation since earning a regular spot in the Yankees' infield. His .763 OPS this season, coupled with a knack for clutch hitting, has turned heads, especially as the team eyes long-term stability at first base. Indeed, insiders have whispered for months that Goldschmidt's one-year, $12.5 million deal—signed last winter to bolster the lineup—might not extend beyond this fall. The 37-year-old, a seven-time All-Star, revived parts of his game in pinstripes but couldn't quite match the thunder of his St. Louis days, posting a serviceable but unremarkable line against southpaws.
Moreover, Boone's adjustment speaks volumes about the Yankees' faith in their homegrown talent. Rice didn't start Tuesday's loss to Garrett Crochet, where the rookie lefty dominated with 11 strikeouts, but now faces Boston's Connelly Early in a do-or-die scenario. Goldschmidt, who went 2-for-4 in that initial defeat, sits this one out, a nod perhaps to Rice's hotter bat late in the regular season. However, the move isn't without risk; the Yankees' offense has sputtered in the series, managing just four hits in Game 1, and benching a proven leader like Goldschmidt could stir the clubhouse.
Yet, for a team built on youth and grit, leaning on Rice feels like the calculated gamble. As the Bronx faithful hold their breath, one wonders if this postseason inflection point will redefine the Yankees' first-base future—or merely echo the uncertainties of October baseball.