Yankees Face Struggles in Frigid Matchup Against Marlins

In a marathon game that lasted nearly four hours on Saturday night, the Yankees experienced some ups and downs on the field, particularly with Jazz Chisholm Jr. struggling on routine plays. The chilly weather didn’t help either.

As the ninth inning unfolded, with the Yankees aiming for a shutout, Otto Lopez hit a simple ground ball towards Chisholm, who, perhaps a bit too leisurely, jogged toward first base. Instead of charging the ball, he opted to slowly make the play, which allowed Lopez to reach first safely with an infield hit.

The Marlins had a solid offensive effort, racking up seven RBIs, but managed only one run against David Bednar, who heroically struck out Griffin Conine with the bases loaded, securing a 9-7 win in the Bronx.

Manager Aaron Boone commented on Chisholm’s demeanor, saying, “He seemed a little more relaxed. Credit to Lopez—who I was rushing down the tracks. He probably thought he had plenty of time.” He added, “But there are things he has to fill in, so obviously we have to get it done.”

When asked if he would address the situation with Chisholm, Boone said, “Let’s see.” Overall, it was a tough night for Chisholm, as he ended up going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.

Bednar, recording his fourth save, threw 33 pitches, a slight reduction compared to his last outing where he threw 40 pitches over 1 1/3 innings in Seattle.

The game also saw home plate umpire Ron Krupa exit in the fourth inning after taking a foul ball off his mask.

Looking ahead, the Yankees are expecting Lewis Gil to step into the major league rotation on Friday, as the time for early season roster adjustments comes to a close. He’s set to pitch Sunday at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, preparing for his 2026 debut in Tampa against the Rays.

With players like Max Fried, Cam Schrittler, Ryan Weathers, and Will Warren all in shape, Gil finds himself in a competitive spot. Throughout spring training, he showcased improvement, particularly in his final Grapefruit League start, where he pitched five shutout innings against the Orioles, striking out seven. It seems there might still be hope for a strong showing at the front of the rotation.

Fried is scheduled to wrap up the series against the Marlins before Schlitzer, Warren, and Weathers take turns against the Athletics. However, the Yankees will need to adjust their roster, potentially risking Rule 5 pick Cade Winquest and a few optionable relievers.

In other news, Gerrit Cole has been making progress in his bullpen sessions as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, though it’s unclear what the next steps will be. Likewise, Carlos Rodon, who had a minor setback with a strained hamstring, returned to the mound and is on track for rehabilitation for his left arm soon.