The New York Yankees shifted Cody Bellinger from the second spot in the order to cleanup for Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday, a change made with the club facing elimination against the Tampa Bay Rays.
New York trails the best-of-five series 2-0 after dropping Game 2 by a 5-2 score Monday night at Tropicana Field. One more loss would end the Yankees’ season.
The team released its revised batting order before first pitch. Trent Grisham leads off in center field, Ben Rice hits second as the designated hitter, and Luis Garcia Jr. bats third at first base. Bellinger follows in the fourth spot and starts in left field.
George Lombard Jr. bats fifth at shortstop, Austin Wells catches and hits sixth, Anthony Volpe plays second base in the seventh spot, Spencer Jones is in right field, and Jose Caballero starts at third base.
Bellinger is 1-for-8 with two strikeouts through the first two games of the series. He batted second in both of those contests and has yet to drive in a run against Tampa Bay.
The 10-year major league veteran hit .264 with 17 home runs and 73 RBIs across 132 regular-season games. He posted a .338 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging percentage for a .767 OPS, with 25 doubles and 12 stolen bases.
Bellinger missed 25 games earlier this season after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in late July. He returned to the lineup in late August.
Rice, who accounted for both of New York’s home runs in the series, moves up from lower in the order to the No. 2 hole. The Yankees scored only six runs combined in the two losses.
Volpe and Caballero both enter the starting lineup after sitting out the opening games of the ALDS. Caballero, who previously played for the Rays, makes his first postseason start of the year.
Left-hander Max Fried gets the ball for New York opposite right-hander Nick Martinez. Fried finished the regular season 5-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 20 starts covering 112 2/3 innings. Martinez went 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA over 180 innings in 31 appearances, all starts.
Fried owns a 5-1 record and 1.81 ERA in seven career starts against Tampa Bay.
Bellinger hit a three-run homer in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against Boston on Sept. 30, a blow that helped push the Yankees into the division series. His production has cooled since that game.
The Rays captured the American League East title with a 98-64 record. The Yankees went 93-68 and advanced as a wild-card entry.
First pitch is set for 8 p.m. Eastern at Yankee Stadium. The game will air on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
New York must win the next three games to reach the AL Championship Series. Tampa Bay can end the series with a victory Wednesday.
The lineup adjustment places Bellinger behind three left-handed hitters against the right-handed Martinez, a setup the Yankees hope will create more scoring chances with their season at stake.
