The Yankees’ first lineup of the Wild Card series handed the Red Sox a little extra confidence before a pitch was even thrown.
Boston is dealing with its own injury issues, with Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras coming in fresh off injuries, and New York is without Aaron Judge. That already set the stage for a series where pitching figures to drive everything. Then Aaron Boone filled out his Game 1 lineup in a way that left plenty of people scratching their heads.
The biggest eyebrow-raiser came at No. 3, where Heliot Ramos was slotted behind Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Rice. Ramos has hit .198/.309/.379 with 39 strikeouts in 38 games since the trade deadline, hardly the kind of production you’d expect from a three hitter. He has been better over his last seven games, posting a .296/.310/.519 line with a home run, but he’s also been sick in recent days, which could affect him.
New York’s other notable choice was Amed Rosario at No. 6.
Rosario has put together a .238/.279/.405 line across 87 games this season, and his numbers against lefties are even less appealing: .208/.250/.356. That matters because Boston is starting left-hander Payton Tolle.
There is at least an argument for the Yankees’ thinking on that front. Tolle has reverse splits, with lefties hitting .248/.301/.404 against him compared with .211/.273/.351 for righties.
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported that the Yankees disagree with the numbers and view Tolle as tougher on left-handed hitters. If New York wants to lean on that belief in October, the Red Sox won’t mind one bit.
Even with the strange lineup choices, the Yankees still have some punch. Goldschmidt has been a force in the leadoff spot this season, batting .306/.324/.750 as the first hitter in 37 games, and Rice remains their biggest power threat without Judge. He has 41 home runs this year and hasn’t done much against Boston in his career, which makes this a possible spot for the Massachusetts native to change the story.
Still, Boston has the arms to answer. Tolle, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez give the Red Sox one of the postseason’s most dangerous rotations, and New York is taking a big gamble by brushing past what the numbers say about Tolle’s season.
In Other News...
Red Sox Playoff Opener Turned On One Pitching Decision
The Red Sox spent the early innings of their Wild Card Game trying to keep things within reach against the Yankees, but the discussion afterward centered on one fifth-inning pitching move. Payton Tolle was pulled and Erik Miller took over, a switch that quickly changed the tone of the night when Ben Rice connected for a home run as New York added its second run and Bostons offense still could not answer.
It was the kind of decision that can loom larger once the game is over, especially with Millers recent struggles already part of the conversation. The move also left the Red Sox leaning on a bullpen that never really settled in, and as the late innings slipped away, the decision to go away from Tolle only looked more consequential. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Anthony's Early Exit Just Raised The Stakes For Boston
Roman Anthonys night ended early in Bostons Game 1 loss to New York after discomfort in his right hand forced him out of the lineup. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said the hand flared on him following a few check-swings, a frustrating development for a player the club has been counting on as it tries to get itself moving in this series.
Now the focus shifts to Game 2, where Anthonys status is still up in the air. For a Boston lineup already looking for better footing, even a minor hand issue can loom large, and the Red Sox will be watching closely to see whether he can be back in the order or whether they have to adjust again. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Anthony Exit Leaves Red Sox Facing A Brutal October Problem
Roman Anthonys night ended early in the Red Soxs Wild Card Series opener against the Yankees after he re-aggravated the right hand injury that had already cost him several months during the regular season. The issue surfaced on a check swing, and Boston had to turn to Andruw Monasterio as the designated hitter in the sixth inning while the game was still unfolding in a difficult direction.
The bigger concern for Boston is what this could mean over the rest of October, because Anthony had only just returned from the injured list and the Red Sox were counting on his bat to help steady the lineup in a tense postseason setting. Instead, they were left to absorb a 9-0 loss and wait to learn how much more time their young outfielder might miss at the worst possible moment. [Read more 🡒]