The New York Yankees are teetering on the edge of elimination in the AL Divisional Series, staring down a 2-0 deficit against the Toronto Blue Jays. After two gut-wrenching losses at Rogers Centre, the Pinstripes are limping back to the Bronx, hoping the roar of Yankee Stadium can spark a miracle. But one eyebrow-raising decision by manager Aaron Boone has fans fuming and second-guessing his strategy: veteran slugger Paul Goldschmidt is riding the bench for Game 3, replaced by rookie Ben Rice at first base.
The Yankees’ lineup, announced via a post on X, remains unchanged from Game 2—except for the glaring absence of Goldschmidt, a proven postseason performer. Instead, Boone is rolling the dice with Rice, who will bat cleanup, a move that’s left the Bronx faithful scratching their heads and flooding social media with outrage. Goldschmidt, signed to a one-year, $12 million deal in the offseason, has been a steady force with a .274/.328/.403 slash line in the regular season and is holding his own in the postseason, albeit in limited action with just seven at-bats. So why sit him now, with the season on the line?
The answer lies on the mound for Toronto: right-hander Shane Bieber, who’s back from Tommy John surgery and pitching with something to prove. According to ESPN, Bieber has been a nightmare for left-handed batters like Rice, holding them to a dismal .156/.247/.247 slash line with just two home runs in 80 plate appearances this season. Right-handed hitters like Goldschmidt, on the other hand, have feasted, posting a robust .297/.342/.595 with six homers in 79 plate appearances. The numbers scream for Goldschmidt to be in the lineup, making Boone’s decision to go with Rice—a lefty with a solid .255/.337/.499 regular season and an even hotter .267/.313/.533 in the postseason—feel like a high-stakes gamble.
Embed X: https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1975648641856737566
The Yankees’ struggles to get runners on base have plagued them all season, and the ALDS has been no different. Heavy hitters like Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton can launch balls into orbit, but their home-run-or-bust approach has left the team stranded in critical moments. Goldschmidt’s veteran presence and knack for timely hits could be the spark New York needs to climb back into this series. Instead, Boone is banking on Rice’s youthful energy and recent hot streak to defy the odds against a pitcher who eats lefties for breakfast.