Ben Rice and the Yankees’ lineup paradox: why the benching signals confidence, not doubt

Ben Rice was left out of the Yankees’ lineup against a left-handed starter in San Francisco, a move that read like hesitation to some observers—but the club insisted it still plans to give Ben Rice chances to face lefty starters this season.

Why did the Yankees sit Ben Rice against a lefty starter?

The Yankees’ second lineup of the season drew scrutiny when Paul Goldschmidt started over Ben Rice against Giants left-hander Robbie Ray in a 3-0 win at Oracle Park. The internal explanation centered on timing: Robbie Ray was described as the only lefty the Yankees were scheduled to face over their first nine games. With that calendar, manager Aaron Boone opted for a “full line change, ” using the club’s right-handed bench bats in one concentrated spot rather than allowing them to go nearly two weeks without game action.

In that approach, Goldschmidt replaced Ben Rice. Amed Rosario started for Ryan McMahon, and Randal Grichuk started for Trent Grisham. Boone framed the logic as part lineup balance and part roster management—getting key right-handed options “their feet wet” early, rather than leaving them idle through a stretch without left-handed starters.

What is the plan for Ben Rice going forward—and what’s the evidence?

Boone stated directly that the Yankees plan to play Ben Rice against some lefties. The reason the club could afford to be selective in this particular game was also roster-driven: Goldschmidt, described as a veteran option on the bench, was available as a strong right-handed alternative in a left-on-left spot.

The Yankees’ internal evaluation of Ben Rice against left-handed pitching was also spelled out. The team believes Ben Rice has the ability to hold his own against lefties, pointing to last season’s line against them: a. 208 batting average with a. 752 OPS. At the same time, the Yankees referenced Goldschmidt’s performance against lefties last season—. 336 with a. 981 OPS—as a reason they can “pick and choose” when to deploy Ben Rice in left-on-left matchups.

Boone described the decision-making as situational: whether the roster is fully available, what the upcoming week looks like, whether the team is seeing a cluster of lefties, or whether it has gone many days without seeing one. In that framework, a rare early-season lefty becomes an “ideal day” to get Goldschmidt into the lineup without undercutting the broader plan for Ben Rice.

Friday’s game offered a data point for how that plan looks in practice. Goldschmidt went 1-for-5 with a double while batting leadoff, as the Yankees won 3-0.

What the roster says about the Yankees’ priorities

The selection dilemma around Ben Rice is only one piece of a wider roster build. Boone explained that the Yankees wanted to get “less lefty-heavy” in the lineup this offseason. Instead of reshaping the everyday group, the club emphasized bench construction—bolstering it with three right-handed bats: re-signing Goldschmidt and Rosario and adding Grichuk, who won a roster spot in camp after arriving on a minor league deal.

The Yankees characterized those right-handed options as especially effective against left-handed pitching over the course of their careers, and also valuable because they can contribute even without daily playing time. That matters for a team that expects to see difficult left-handed pitching, including division opponents Garrett Crochet of the Red Sox and Trevor Rogers of the Orioles.

Boone also pointed to a broader tactical environment: he said that last year it seemed other teams would “line up lefties” for the Yankees when possible. The response, he indicated, was to create more balance and to have the “right people” available for those matchups—without framing the response as a demotion of Ben Rice. The practical result is a roster where Ben Rice can be protected from certain left-on-left matchups when circumstances warrant, while still being positioned to get opportunities against left-handed starters over the course of the season.

For now, the Yankees’ message is that this is not a retreat from Ben Rice, but a reflection of how the early schedule, bench composition, and matchup-specific priorities intersect—especially when a lefty starter appears only once in a nine-game span.