Paul Goldschmidt found himself back in the Yankees’ starting lineup on Wednesday for the first time since Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Faced with another potential elimination game, Aaron Boone went with the right-handed veteran over the left-handed Ben Rice in Game 4 of the ALDS. With the Blue Jays opting for a bullpen game, the manager explained that he wanted Goldschmidt in the lineup for right-left balance and to “not be in that situation early where you’re just giving them good matchups and you’re maybe a little reluctant to fire pinch-hitters.”
Boone was able to achieve that balance with Goldschmidt starting, as his lineup looked as such:
- CF Trent Grisham (LHH)
- RF Aaron Judge
- LF Cody Bellinger (LHH)
- DH Giancarlo Stanton
- 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. (LHH)
- 1B Paul Goldschmidt
- C Austin Wells (LHH)
- SS Anthony Volpe
- 3B Ryan McMahon (LHH)
Boone also said he was preparing for the Blue Jays to use Game 1 starter Kevin Gausman. Boone considers the splitter-throwing righty a pitcher with neutral splits and a good matchup for Goldschmidt, who is 10-for-22 with a homer off Gausman.
While Gausman threw 75 pitches while allowing one earned run over 5.2 innings on Saturday in Toronto, Blue Jays manager John Schneider left the door open for the veteran to make an appearance in Game 4 after he threw a “modified bullpen” session before the game. However, Schneider added it would have to be a “very unique” situation for Gausman to enter, per MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson.
Schneider added that Trey Yesavage, who dominated the Yankees in Game 2, was likelier to be called on, though the game would dictate that with the Jays potentially needing the rookie and Gausman in Game 5.
Yesavage dazzled in his postseason debut on Sunday — the fourth start of his big league career — refusing to allow a hit over 5.1 scoreless innings. The 22-year-old, armed with an over-the-top release point and a devastating splitter, also struck out 11 while issuing just one walk.
Boone said that he considered starting Goldschmidt against Yesavage and Shane Bieber in Game 3, as both right-handers are tough on lefties. However, he ultimately stuck with Rice, who went 2-for-7 with a double and two RBI in those games, because he’s more of a power threat.
Rice entered Wednesday hitting .222 with a .694 OPS, one homer and four RBI over 18 postseason at-bats.
Goldschmidt was hitting .500 with a 1.000 OPS this postseason, though he had zero extra-base hits over eight at-bats.
