Yankees bench Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon for critical Game 3 of ALDS

NEW YORK — New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he might make changes to the starting lineup after the team lost, 5-2, to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday night. 

Two major changes were made before Game 3.  

Boone benched second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and third baseman Ryan McMahon and inserted Anthony Volpe at second and José Caballero at third on Wednesday night. With right-hander Nick Martinez on the hill for Tampa, one would think the left-handed-hitting Chisholm and McMahon would be better choices over Volpe and Caballero, who are both right-handed. However, Boone said he likes the confidence Volpe and Caballero bring to the table. Chisholm and McMahon are a combined 3-for-16 (.188) with an RBI in this year’s postseason.   

Aaron Boone explains decision to bench Jazz Chisholm Jr., Ryan McMahon

“Two guys (Volpe and Caballero) that have been an important part of our team this year,” Boone told reporters. “Thinking about it on the plane ride home, kind of made my decision there, and then just stewed through the lineup yesterday. And yeah, hopefully excited to get those guys in and hopefully it will be a little spark for us.” 

During the first inning of Monday’s loss, the Yankees made three errors. McMahon and Chisholm made two of them. With Yankees ace Cam Schlittler on the mound, the first error came when Yandy Díaz led off and hit a hard grounder that went past the glove of McMahon at third base.  

After Jonathan Aranda singled to put runners on first and second, Junior Caminero hit a slow ground ball to shortstop George Lombard Jr., who threw to Chisholm to get the force out at second, but Chisholm threw the ball past first baseman Luis García Jr. for the second error of the frame and that allowed Díaz to score the first run of the game.

If he had to do it over again, Chisholm said he would still make the throw to first base. 

“I would try to make an even better throw,” Chisholm acknowledged to reporters. “I would try to throw it close to the base. My back was turned." 

Both Chisholm and McMahon were inconsistent on both sides of the ball during the regular season. Chisholm had a slash line of .231/312/.399 with 19 homers. His glove was just as bad, recording -6 in defensive runs saved. 

McMahon played in 124 games and was -2 in defensive runs saved as well as hitting .213 with 11 home runs and 41 RBI. 

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.