For Aaron Boone, it’s an easy call.
Paul Goldschmidt will be in the Yankees’ lineup against left-handed pitchers all postseason, just like he was on Tuesday night with Garrett Crochet starting for the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the Wild Card series.
“Goldy is going to play against every lefty we face,” Boone said during his pregame press conference at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees deployed a platoon at first base for much of the season, with the righty-swinging Goldschmidt starting against left-handed pitchers and the lefty-swinging Ben Rice playing against right-handers.
Goldschmidt, 38, batted .336 with a .981 OPS against lefties in the regular season, though much of that production came on the strength of a hot start. He posted a .676 OPS against lefties from June 1 on.
Rice, meanwhile, finished with a .752 OPS against left-handed pitchers, including a .723 OPS since June 1. He hit just .208 against lefties for the season, however.
“Ben is obviously a huge part of our offense and has had a phenomenal year and is hot,” Boone said. “But I think part of that is he has faced the people he should be facing, too.”
Goldschmidt was the Yankees’ leadoff hitter in Game 1, while Rice was out of the starting lineup.
Rice is set to be in the lineup for Game 2 with right-hander Brayan Bello scheduled to start for Boston, Boone said.
“I just try to be ready every day,” Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star and the 2022 National League MVP, said ahead of the series.
“If I’m in the lineup, be ready to go, and if not, be ready to come off the bench in whatever role they need me. I haven’t really tried to adjust too much. Maybe just pinch-hitting, but that was happening a little bit earlier in the year. [It was] something a little bit new for me, but now I’ve got plenty of experience.”
Rice ended the season as one of the Yankees’ hottest hitters, batting .316 with four home runs and a .932 OPS in September. His 26 homers this year ranked fifth among Yankees batters.
Rice also plays catcher, giving him another avenue for playing time behind Austin Wells, who, too, bats left-handed.
The Yankees could face another left-hander on Thursday in a potential winner-take-all Game 3.
Boston has not announced a starter for that day, but with Lucas Giolito off of the Wild Card roster due to an elbow injury, the Red Sox could turn to rookie Connelly Early or Kyle Harrison, both of whom are left-handed.
On the days Rice doesn’t start, Boone views the second-year slugger as “a really good chip” to use off the bench.
“Hopefully in a big spot,” Boone said.
GOOD WILL
Although he’s not in line to start a game in the Wild Card series, Will Warren made the Yankees’ 26-man roster.
Boone said he envisions “a lot of different roles” that the rookie right-hander could fill.
“It might be in a short burst,” Boone said. “It might be in a situation where we need length. It might be in an extra-inning situation where you are out of pitching and you’ve got to roll.”
Warren, 26, went 9-8 with a 4.44 ERA and 171 strikeouts in 162.1 innings over 33 starts this year. His lone relief appearance in the majors came last season.
“He’s pitched really effectively all year,” Boone said. “He’s on his fourth day today, so for most of the series he should be in good shape to be able to give us what we need.”
Left off of the Wild Card roster, meanwhile, was fellow starter Luis Gil, who threw 79 pitches in Sunday’s regular season finale.
“He’ll get ready and hopefully be in line for the next series if we get there,” Boone said.
ROSTER RESOLUTIONS
J.C. Escarra did not appear in an MLB game after Aug. 12, but the rookie catcher made the Wild Card roster because of the flexibility his presence provides, Boone said.
Carrying Escarra allows the Yankees to use Rice as a pinch-hitter or to pinch-run for Wells or Rice without losing coverage at catcher.
Escarra made the roster over outfielder Austin Slater. Slater’s specialty is doing damage against left-handers, but he went just 3-for-25 (.120) after being acquired by the Yankees in a midseason trade.
That was one of the Yankees’ tougher roster decisions, as was finishing off their relief corps. The Yankees ultimately selected right-hander Paul Blackburn over lefties Ryan Yarbrough and Brent Headrick.
That leaves the Yankees with only one left-hander — Tim Hill — in the bullpen, but Boone believes his right-handed relievers are more than capable of getting lefty batters out.
Blackburn pitched to a 5.28 ERA after being signed by the Yankees in August, but five of his final six appearances were scoreless. A starter by trade, Blackburn can also provide length.
“He earned his way on,” Boone said. “He’s been really good. We got him out of need and just were in a little bit of a bind, and then he’s kind of taken it and run with some of the opportunities. He’s pitched really well this last month.”