BOSTON — Ben Rice had been an MVP contender for much of the season, but lately, things haven’t been going as well for him. His performance over the last six games has been notably underwhelming, compounded by the fact that the Yankees’ entire offense seems to be struggling alongside him.
The hard-hitting first baseman sat out on Friday but went 0-for-4 in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat against the Red Sox. In those six games, he’s managed only 2 hits in 23 at-bats, resulting in a .174 OPS, with the Yankees losing four of those matches.
“He’s definitely feeling a bit off at the moment,” said manager Aaron Boone. “That happens, even to All-Stars and MVP candidates. Sometimes you just hit a rough patch.” He expressed hope that Rice would bounce back soon, saying, “I think he’ll get through it. Let’s see if he can turn things around.”
It’s worth noting that Rice isn’t the only player having a rough week. Still, his influence had been significant prior to this slump, as he entered Saturday’s game with a .276 batting average and a .940 OPS. This has been, without a doubt, his quietest stretch of the season.
Facing a lot of left-handed pitchers recently, including the Red Sox’s Jake Bennett, has made things tougher for him. “We managed to give him some problems,” Boone commented on Bennett’s performance against Rice.
Interestingly, Rice grounded out in eight consecutive at-bats before striking out in his last chance on Saturday.
The Yankees are still waiting for their two major hitters, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, to return from injuries. However, Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon are expected to rejoin the team during the upcoming homestand starting Monday.
Grisham, who has been sidelined due to a right hamstring strain, is likely to play a rehab game on Tuesday. He was one of the Yankees’ hottest hitters before his injury, and his return should also enhance the team’s defense. Boone noted, “I think his presence will settle things down defensively.”
As for McMahon, he’s eligible to return as of Thursday and should be back for the Friday opener against the Twins. After being diagnosed with a peritonsillar abscess, he rested for a few days but returned to baseball activities this weekend, according to Boone.
“This morning he felt good and had a solid night’s sleep, so we’re looking forward to him being healthy in a few days,” Boone added.
In a bright spot, Max Schumann hit his first homer as a Yankee in the fifth inning, a 412-foot shot off Bennett, marking the team’s only run that day.
