Remember Saturday’s win over the Orioles? For the most part, it was smooth sailing, but there was one tense moment when Jazz Chisholm Jr. took a pitch off his forearm. And at the time, the Yankees couldn’t have imagined worse news, because losing their most electric slugger right before the Wild Card series might prove catastrophic. Well, the fear became reality when the lineup dropped for Game 1 against the Red Sox.
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We saw no Chisholm, and Amed Rosario got the start instead. But before you jump to the worst conclusion about Chisholm, here’s a little relief. Manager Aaron Boone gave an update that should ease some of the worry.
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MLB, Baseball Herren, USA New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox Sep 13, 2025 Boston, Massachusetts. USA New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. 13 prepares to be interviewed before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Boston Fenway Park Massachusetts USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xEricxCanhax 20250913_tcs_qe2_108
Meanwhile, Amed Rosario brings a little more upside in this matchup. Notably, against right-handers this season, he hit .231 with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs in 69 plate appearances. Hence, by going with Rosario, Boone keeps Chisholm fresh for later in the series while stacking the lineup to handle Crochet better, who’s been lethal against right-handed hitters.
Now, it’s a smart, matchup-driven move that shows Boone is willing to lean on platoon advantages when everything is on the line. And make no mistake, a healthy Chisholm will still be central to the Yankees’ World Series hopes.
Others besides Chisholm are also missing the game
Ben Rice was one of New York’s hottest bats down the stretch. For the unversed, over the final month of the season, he slashed .301/.333/.554 with four homers and 14 RBIs. And yes, Boone’s well aware of that, which is why this choice feels like a gamble. “Just because Rice isn’t in there doesn’t mean he doesn’t impact the game in a big way,” Boone said.
So, the big question now is whether the Yankees will end up second-guessing themselves for leaving Rice out in such a crucial game.
Gil is also sitting out, which comes as a bit of a surprise. Remember, he made a comeback after missing the early part of the season, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.32 ERA over 11 starts? So between Gil and Chisholm, the Yankees are leaving a couple of big names on the sidelines for their first postseason game. It’s definitely a gamble, and now it’s just a matter of seeing how it plays out.