The New York Yankees entered Saturday’s matchup with the San Diego Padres still stinging from a 3-2 extra-inning loss the night before, and manager Aaron Boone responded with a lineup change that immediately drew attention.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., who started Friday and finished 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout, was held out of the starting nine, via Underdog MLB. Amed Rosario took over at second base as left-hander Carlos Rodón prepared to face Padres starter Robbie Ray.
The move was not entirely surprising given the matchup. Rosario has often drawn the assignment against left-handed pitching this season, and Boone indicated Chisholm would remain available off the bench.
If Ray exits and a right-handed reliever enters, the Yankees’ second baseman is expected to be the first option as a pinch hitter. The rest of the order featured Paul Goldschmidt at first, Cody Bellinger in left, Ben Rice at designated hitter, Heliot Ramos in right, George Lombard Jr. at shortstop, Spencer Jones in center, José Caballero at third and Austin Wells behind the plate.
Chisholm’s 2026 campaign has been uneven. The 28-year-old entered Saturday hitting .229 with 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 454 at-bats. His slugging percentage stood at .403 and his OPS at .713.
Those numbers represent a noticeable climb from the slump that marked the early weeks of August, yet they still leave him short of the explosive production he has shown in stretches when everything clicks.
When he is locked in, few players in the league combine power, speed and defensive range the way he does. Sitting him against a left-hander is a tactical choice rather than a vote of no confidence.
The Yankees themselves sit at 80-61, second in both the American League East and the overall American League standings. They trail the Tampa Bay Rays by four games in each race.
Should the regular season end today, New York would host a best-of-three Wild Card series as the top seed in that bracket. Every remaining game therefore carries extra weight, and Boone’s willingness to shuffle the infield against a lefty starter reflects that urgency.
Saturday’s contest offered another chance for the Yankees to even the series and keep pressure on the clubs above them.
Whether Chisholm stays on the bench or enters later as a late-inning spark will depend on how the game unfolds and whether Ray remains in the contest.
For a club still fighting on two fronts, those small roster decisions can matter as much as the final score.
