Ryan McMahon Makes Yankees Debut Against Phillies With Aaron Judge Out

The Yankees’ newest third baseman is making his debut, and he’s stepping into a prime opportunity.

Ryan McMahon, acquired Friday from the Colorado Rockies, is batting eighth and playing third base Saturday afternoon as the New York Yankees face the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium. The lineup is missing Aaron Judge, who’s getting a scheduled day off, which makes McMahon’s bat even more important in the middle game of the series.

He’s walking into a matchup he knows well.

McMahon enters Saturday 4-for-9 (.444) with a home run in his career against Phillies starter Ranger Suarez, one of the top left-handers in the National League. A few good swings off Suarez could help him settle in fast in the Bronx—something every new Yankee needs.

Batting him eighth is a classic Aaron Boone move. It lets a player ease in and realize he doesn’t have to be “the man” right away. In Colorado, McMahon was one of the guys under constant pressure. In New York, he can slide into a lineup full of power and just do his job.

Right now, the Yankees are mostly counting on his glove.

The team has struggled to find any stability at third base this season. Oswald Peraza hasn’t hit. Jazz Chisholm Jr. never looked comfortable there. The position has been a moving target. McMahon’s Gold Glove-caliber defense gives the Yankees something they’ve lacked: reliability.

The team cleared space by optioning Scott Effross and Jorbit Vivas to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Friday’s blowout loss. The Yankees also activated Yerry De Los Santos from the injured list to take Effross’s spot.

McMahon had 16 home runs and led the Rockies in RBIs and walks before the trade. If he can contribute right away, it could spark the kind of second-half push the Yankees need.