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NEW YORK – For a second straight game, Ben Rice is on the Yankees’ bench against a lefty starter.
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Yes, that Ben Rice – the one leading all MLB hitters in on-base percentage (.508) and OPS (1.253) entering Tuesday night against the Angels.
Though the plan was to originally start Rice vs. lefty starter Reid Detmers, manager Aaron Boone said he prefers to “cherry pick’’ when to fire Rice in a big spot.
Rice was not in the lineup during the Yanks’ previous two games against lefty starters (Rays’ Steven Matz, Angels’ Yusei Kikuchi) and still made an impact.
Last Friday, Rice pinch-hit a homer in his only at-bat, in a 5-3 loss at Tropicana Field.
On Tuesday, Rice entered in the fifth inning and contributed a walk and a single in three plate appearances during the Yanks’ 11-10 comeback win at Yankee Stadium.
With the lefty-hitting Rice on the bench, “I’ve been able to fire him at the most important part, and it might be early in the game,’’ said Boone, insisting too that Rice “is going to play against lefties.’’
Rice should eventually get a few starts behind the plate, but Boone isn’t comfortable yet with Rice catching five-plus innings.
They intend to build up Rice by catching simulated games (he caught Carlos Rodon’s latest), but the focus has mostly been on reps at first base, not his natural position.
Boone also wants Paul Goldschmidt’s presence against lefty starters; he’s batting .331 with a .984 OPS in 157 at-bats vs. lefties since the start of 2025.
“Also early in the season, (I’m) trying to keep our bench in play,’’ said Boone, with Goldschmidt back in the leadoff spot Tuesday and Amed Rosario batting third.
Rice joins three other lefty hitters – Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., J.C. Escarra – on the bench to begin this warm Tuesday night at the Stadium.
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