The Yankees have made some interesting decisions with their lineup for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, with Amed Rosario at third base and Anthony Volpe at second base.
- Amed Rosario will start at third base for the Yankees in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
- Anthony Volpe is getting the start over Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base.
- The Yankees are playing the matchups game with Payton Tolle on the bump for Boston.
According to Aaron Boone, the team's manager, Volpe has been playing well since rejoining the majors, and the decision to start him over Chisholm Jr. was made to match up with the opposing team's pitcher.
Why Volpe Over Chisholm Jr.?
Chisholm Jr. had just a .650 OPS against southpaws in 2026, and the Yankees are playing the matchups game with Payton Tolle on the bump for Boston. Volpe, on the other hand, has been hitting well, and Boone felt that he was the better choice for the starting lineup.
- Volpe has been hitting well since rejoining the majors.
- Chisholm Jr. had a low OPS against southpaws in 2026.
The Decision to Start Rosario at Third
Aaron Boone also explained the decision to start Rosario at third base, saying that he values Rosario as a 10th man off the bench. Rosario has been given opportunities to start despite his numbers not being as great as they have been in the past against lefties.
“I know his numbers haven’t been as great as they have been the last few years against lefties, but you dig a little bit and I think he’s been very much in line with who he’s been, he just hasn’t got a lot of results,” Boone said.
The Bullpen
The final spot in the bullpen came down to a pair of lefties — Ryan Yarbrough or Tim Hill — with the Yankees taking Yarbrough because of his ability to give them some length if needed. Yarbrough can give the Yankees some length if needed, and Hill is a lefty specialist who was homer-prone late in the season.
The Yankees also could add another lefty in Ryan Weathers, who was left off the roster to continue building him up from a left forearm flexor strain. Weathers was likely only going to be available for one inning.
It's worth noting that the Yankees' bullpen has been a strength for the team this season, with a collective 3.14 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. However, the team will need to be careful with their bullpen usage in the Wild Card Series, as they will be facing a best-of-three series against the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees' decision to start Volpe over Chisholm Jr. at second base has been met with some surprise, but it's clear that Boone values Volpe's ability to hit against left-handed pitchers. Volpe has a .750 OPS against lefties this season, compared to Chisholm Jr.'s .650 OPS.
The Yankees' lineup for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series is an interesting one, with Amed Rosario at third base and Anthony Volpe at second base. The team is playing the matchups game with Payton Tolle on the bump for Boston, and the decision to start Volpe over Chisholm Jr. was made to match up with the opposing team's pitcher.
It will be interesting to see how the Yankees' lineup performs in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, and whether the team's decision to start Volpe over Chisholm Jr. pays off.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports: Yankees reveal lineup for Wild Card Series Game 1
- New York Post: Yankees bench Jazz Chisholm Jr. in Game 1 after up-and-down season
