The New York Yankees are at a crossroads after losing Game 1 of the ALDS to the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 10-1. People are starting to ask more and more questions about manager Aaron Boone’s lineup choices, especially why he won’t start veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. With elimination on the line, Boone’s decisions mean more than just the box score.

Boone put Ben Rice at first base for the fourth straight postseason game. This time, it was for Sunday’s important Game 2 against rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage. The choice says a lot about how the power structure is changing in the Yankees’ clubhouse. In 138 regular-season games, 26-year-old Rice hit 26 home runs, showing Boone the raw power he wants in high-pressure situations. Goldschmidt, on the other hand, only hit ten home runs in 145 games this season, and only two of them came in the second half.

The manager’s deliberation reveals the depth of his uncertainty about Goldschmidt. “A little bit. I definitely deliberated on that a little while, but also trust in Benny’s ability to control the strike zone and obviously impact the ball,” Boone explained. His words show that he doesn’t completely trust Goldschmidt’s ability to follow through when it matters most.

Goldschmidt is still available to come off the bench to pinch-hit against left-handed relievers, but his reduced role shows that the veteran first baseman’s stock has dropped dramatically. Boone chose Rice over Goldschmidt because he thought Rice had more explosive potential. This was a calculated risk that shows how important postseason baseball is.

Before Sunday’s game, Boone delivered a measured wake-up call to his squad. “It’s who we are, man, what we do,” Boone said, emphasizing the team’s resilience during the season’s final two months. He acknowledged the Yankees “really struggled” during a mid-season slump but insisted the team’s focus has returned. “You’re gonna have losses along the way. You’ve got to be able to bounce back from them, especially now,” Boone stated, projecting confidence that his team would “put our best foot forward” regardless of Sunday’s outcome.

His words mean more because his team will face an unusual challenge. The New York Yankees must contend not only with their own problems but also with an opponent willing to take big risks.

The Yankees face the Blue Jays’ rookie gamble

Boone is dealing with lineup questions, but Toronto is making an even bolder move by giving the ball to their future. Trey Yesavage, a 22-year-old right-hander who just joined the majors a few weeks ago, will pitch Game 2 on Sunday. The Blue Jays picked him in the first round of the 2024 draft straight from East Carolina. Now, with only three starts and 14 total innings of big-league experience, he is up against the Yankees.

When manager John Schneider told Yesavage what he would be doing, the 6-foot-4 prospect was shocked. The organization picked him over more experienced players, which left him speechless at first. But shock quickly turned into confidence. The young pitcher says that Toronto’s smart management of his workload has put him in top shape just when the team needs him the most.

Yesavage gets ready for this high-stakes debut by arming himself with real weapons. His fastball can reach 95 mph, and he also has an 89-mph slider and an 84-mph splitter that batters can’t figure out. In his short time in the major leagues, he had 16 strikeouts and 7 walks, a 3.21 ERA, and no home runs allowed.

The Yankees fight back with veteran lefty Max Fried and a lineup that includes Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Cody Bellinger, and Ryan McMahon. The series is on the line, and both teams are putting everything on the line with different ideas.