The New York Yankees posted their starting lineup Saturday afternoon for the second game of a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Paul Goldschmidt was not in it.
New York is trying to take the series after a 9-2 win Friday night at Chase Field. Goldschmidt led off that game and finished with a hit, a walk and two runs scored.
The announced order put Ben Rice at designated hitter, Cody Bellinger in left field and Luis García Jr. at first base. Heliot Ramos started in right, George Lombard Jr. at shortstop, Austin Wells behind the plate, Anthony Volpe at second, Ryan McMahon at third and José Caballero in center. Cam Schlittler was listed as the starting pitcher.
Underdog MLB wrote: “Yankees 9/19 B. Rice DH C. Bellinger LF L. García Jr. 1B H. Ramos RF G. Lombard Jr. SS A. Wells C A. Volpe 2B R. McMahon 3B J. Caballero CF C. Schlittler SP.”
Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star, is in his second season with the Yankees after signing a one-year deal in February. He entered Saturday hitting .253 with 85 hits, 18 home runs, 50 RBIs, 44 runs and one stolen base in 102 games.
The 39-year-old first baseman spent his first eight big-league seasons in Arizona. He made six straight All-Star teams from 2013 through 2018 while wearing a Diamondbacks uniform.
After leaving Phoenix, Goldschmidt spent six years with the St. Louis Cardinals and won National League Most Valuable Player honors in 2022.
The Yankees sit second in the American League East at 89-64 through 153 games. They have gone 8-2 in their last 10 and trail the Tampa Bay Rays by four games.
Arizona is third in the National League West at 80-74 after 154 games and 4-6 over its last 10.
Manager Aaron Boone has mixed Goldschmidt’s playing time throughout the second half as younger options such as Rice have taken on larger roles. Goldschmidt started Friday after sitting in recent games.
The veteran remains a respected presence in the clubhouse. The Yankees nominated him for the 2026 MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award earlier this season.
Goldschmidt signed a one-year, $4 million contract with New York this past offseason after hitting .274 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs in 146 games during his first Yankees season.
He has 390 career home runs and 1,282 RBIs across 16 major-league seasons. Career numbers also include a .286 batting average and seven All-Star selections.
Saturday’s game was scheduled for late afternoon local time. A New York win would give the Yankees the series with one game left.
The Diamondbacks have struggled to find consistent production at first base this year after Goldschmidt left the organization years earlier.
New York continues to chase a postseason berth in the final weeks of the regular season. Goldschmidt’s availability as a pinch-hitter or late-inning option remains part of the roster mix even when he does not start.
The lineup change was posted hours before first pitch and immediately circulated among fans tracking the club’s late-season decisions.
