The Yankees are heading into the Wildcard Series with a mix of anticipation and hesitation. As the team prepares to face the Red Sox, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton find themselves sidelined, affecting the lineup.
Among the notable decisions is that left-handed batter Ben Rice is likely to start from the bench for Game 1 since the Red Sox will have southpaw Garrett Crochet on the mound.
This was a topic of discussion for Aaron Boone and the front office as they finalized their strategy ahead of the three-game series starting Tuesday.
In Rice’s absence, Austin Wells is expected to catch Max Fried, who is, by the way, a right-handed pitcher—a decision Boone indicated was made after considering Wells’s recent performance and his rapport with Fried.
“I think Wells has really shown his worth behind the plate,” Boone mentioned, noting that Wells has been the catcher for 27 of Fried’s 32 starts and has been hitting well recently.
Both Rice and Wells have had success against Crochet, with Rice holding an 8-1 record and Wells slightly better at 9-2, both with extra-base hits.
And there are more choices on the table for the Yankees ahead of the opener.
Boone pointed out Ryan McMahon’s impressive track record at the plate against Fried, although there are some concerns about how well he performs as a left-handed hitter. Meanwhile, Amed Rosario is also in the mix, showing a solid 9-6 record on extra-base hits against Crochet.
Injury concerns linger, too; Jazz Chisholm Jr. seems to be recovering well after getting hit on his left forearm, but despite being hitless in four at-bats against Crochet, he might still find himself in the lineup.
Another option in the infield is Jose Caballero, who has fared well against Crochet, hitting 7-7 with five strikeouts. It appears Anthony Volpe may regain his starting role at shortstop after dealing with an injury earlier in the season.
Fried’s ground-ball ability could be crucial, as he’s rated high in that category among starting pitchers this season. So, infield defense will be key during the matchup.
“Max is a huge factor on the mound,” Boone noted, indicating they’re still weighing their decisions.
Boone also mentioned that the recent acquisitions of Caballero and Rosario could contribute to the game on Tuesday, citing their positive impact since joining the team.
As the Yankees prepare for this short series, the decisions made now could dramatically influence their postseason.
