Yankees, Red Sox Unveil Lineups for MLB Playoffs Game 1 as Jazz Chisholm Jr. Benched

The New York Yankees have released their lineup for Game 1 of their Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox.

Here's how Boston's lineup will look:

Manager Aaron Boone tailored this righty-heavy lineup to combat Red Sox left-handed starting pitcher Peyton Tolle.

Three left-handed bats who typically start when available (second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. and center fielder Trent Grisham) are on the bench.

Chisholm told reporters, via Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, that he expected to start and would (naturally) be upset if he wasn't.

Of course, all three players could be subbed in if Tolle is removed from the game for a right-handed reliever.

Chisholm has struggled against left-handers, hitting .218 (.650 OPS) with five home runs and 21 RBI in 160 plate appearances. He's had a down year overall after a 2025 All-Star season, hitting 19 homers with 55 RBI and a .231 average (.711 OPS), down from 31 homers, 80 RBI, a .242 average and a .813 OPS.

Benching him is arguably the most debatable decision, as Anthony Volpe has struggled this year to the point where he was sent to the minors this summer.

He returned to the bigs when Chisholm briefly went to the IL with a sprained right thumb. Volpe's done better at the dish since his previous 2026 run, hitting .265 (.695 OPS) in 14 games since returning.

Grisham has had a down year in general and has been on the injured list since Sept. 4 with a right hamstring strain. He's hit .211 (.703 OPS) this year. Starting center fielder Spencer Jones, meanwhile, has done well down the stretch. He's hit .287 (.832 OPS) in his last 33 games (six homers).

Garcia has enjoyed a career year with the Washington Nationals (and Yankees, after a midseason trade), hitting 30 homers and driving in 92 runs with an .831 OPS. He has a .653 OPS vs. left-handers in 87 plate appearances.

Goldschmidt, for his part, has mashed lefties this year to the tune of a .967 OPS, 11 homers, and 24 RBI in 183 plate appearances.

We'll see if the moves work soon enough. In the meantime, Yankee Stadium is ready for playoff baseball.

Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET.