Yankees' Aaron Boone shouldn't change this ahead of Game 3

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone looks on from the dugout against the Minnesota Twins during the fourth inning at Target Field. Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Yankees' Aaron Boone shouldn't change one major thing ahead of Game 3 of ALWC

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 11:02 PM ET

Memo to New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone: You've found the right postseason lineup; don't ruin it.

In Game 1 of the American League Wild Card against the Boston Red Sox, Boone didn't start first baseman/catcher Ben Rice and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. Those decisions proved costly in a 3-1 loss.

The manager inserted them back into the starting lineup in Game 2 on Wednesday night, which paid off for New York.

Ben Rice and Jazz Chisholm Jr. helped the Yankees stave off elimination

Rice delivered on his first pitch of the postseason. In the bottom of the first inning, the 26-year-old crushed an 87 mph cutter from Boston starting pitcher Brayan Bello for a 364-foot home run into right field. The moonshot drove in left fielder Cody Bellinger, giving the Yankees an early 2-0 lead.

Ben Rice homers on the first #Postseason pitch he sees! pic.twitter.com/7MkVbPj1pt
— MLB (@MLB) October 1, 2025

Chisholm's speed, meanwhile, came in handy during the bottom of the eighth inning.

With the game tied 3-3, Yankees catcher Austin Wells singled into right field off an 85 mph changeup from Red Sox relief pitcher Garrett Whitlock. Chisholm then booked all the way from first base, beating out the throw at home, securing a 4-3 win for the Yankees.

IT WAS FAIR, I WAS THERE
I REMEMBER IT ALL TOO WELLS#POSTSEASON pic.twitter.com/GJlqcFb0cz
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2025

Yankees now turn to Game 3 vs. Red Sox

New York will host Boston in Game 3 of the best-of-three series on Thursday. The winner will face the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.

The Yankees, Cleveland Guardians and San Diego Padres are aiming to become the first teams to win a wild-card series after dropping Game 1 since Major League Baseball changed its postseason format in 2022. With that in mind, Boone shouldn't take any chances. But will he?

In a postgame news conference, Boone said he plans to start Chisholm in Game 3 but is undecided on Rice. Still, his choice should be clear.

Rice — who finished 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI on Wednesday — should be in the lineup, especially when he's finding his groove.

"Definitely like the momentum I've got going on right now, and that the team has right now, I feel like we're in a good place," Rice said postgame.

Boone shouldn't do anything to disrupt that momentum before an elimination game, such as changing a lineup that has proven to be clutch.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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