The New York Yankees were shut out in Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Rays and scored just two runs in Game 2.
According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Aaron Boone said he is considering lineup changes for Game 3 in the Bronx. The Yankees clearly need to make some changes, as their backs are now against the wall. The good news is, they have an elite pitching staff, and if it were not for some shotty defense in Game 2, two runs may have been enough to win the game.
Max Fried will be on the mound for Game 3, but if the Yankees don't score runs, it won't matter how well Fried pitches. Boone has deployed this lineup in both games:
- Ben Rice DH
- Cody Bellinger LF
- Luis Garcia Jr. 1B
- Spencer Jones RF
- George Lombard Jr. SS
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2B
- Trent Grisham CF
- Austin Wells C
- Ryan McMahon 3B
Nick Martinez will be on the mound for the Rays in Game 3, making him the third straight righty the Rays will start. Boone has gone lefty-heavy with the lineup in the first two games, starting eight lefties. Lombard has been the only right-handed batter. Through two games, Ben Rice and Austin Wells are 4-for-12 with four extra-base hits, but the rest of the team is 1-for-46.
What changes can Boone actually make? Well, defense is important, but the Yankees need to find a way to score some runs. The big changes Boone may look to make are replacing McMahon with either Jose Caballero or Anthony Volpe. Boone mentioned he considered starting Volpe at third base in Game 2, but went with McMahon for the defense.
Well, that ended up not mattering as McMahon made an early error anyway. Boone could also start Paul Goldschmidt over Garcia at first base. It would improve the defense at first base, but it's a risk to start Goldschmidt against a righty. He crushes lefties, but struggles against right-handers. However, the Yankees are running out of time, and Garcia's bat is ice cold in this series.
The Yankees may also consider moving Wells up in the batting order. He and Rice are the only guys producing right now. Getting him more at-bats could help.