The New York Yankees are breathing a sigh of relief as Jazz Chisholm Jr., their dynamic second baseman, appears primed for the postseason despite a recent scare. A day after taking a bruising 97 mph sinker to his left forearm in Saturday’s win over the Baltimore Orioles, Chisholm was sidelined for Game 162 due to lingering swelling and soreness. However, the electrifying infielder is confident he’ll be ready to ignite the lineup when the Yankees face the Boston Red Sox in the playoffs on Tuesday.
“I should be good,” Chisholm declared before Sunday’s gritty 3-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. His optimism is backed by clean X-rays and a CT scan from Saturday, confirming no structural damage. Manager Aaron Boone echoed the sentiment, noting, “A little sore, but nothing too serious, I don’t think.” Chisholm’s brief appearance as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and his two innings in the field on Sunday further signal his readiness for the postseason spotlight.
Chisholm’s return is a massive boost for the Yankees. The 26-year-old finished the regular season with a stellar 31 home runs and 31 stolen bases, showcasing the rare power-speed combo that makes him a game-changer. José Caballero filled in admirably at second base on Sunday, swiping his 49th base of the season, but his costly pickoff by Orioles reliever Keegan Akin underscored Chisholm’s irreplaceable presence in the lineup.
Meanwhile, Ben Rice is heading into the playoffs red-hot, providing another reason for Yankees fans to be optimistic. The catcher/first baseman capped the regular season with a pair of home runs on Sunday, bringing his season total to 26. Over his final 44 games, Rice posted a scorching .304 batting average and a .943 OPS, cementing his status as a key contributor. His grand slam in Baltimore last week was a turning point, sparking a string of high-quality at-bats.
“Really since the game before he hit the grand slam, he didn’t have a great game swinging the bat, made some adjustments,” Boone said. “Since that point, this last week or so of games, it’s been a lot of really great at-bats, more loud contact. Benny Barrels has been doing his thing. He’s in a great place going in.”
Rice credited his surge to a tweak in his approach, allowing the ball to travel deeper before unleashing his swing. The adjustment has clearly paid dividends, and with “Benny Barrels” locked in, the Yankees’ offense looks even more formidable.