Trouble for the Yankees over possible benching of Jazz Chisholm in favor of Anthony Volpe
The Yankees are considering a platoon at second base, putting Chisholm’s Game 1 role in doubt
Jazz Chisholm spent part of Monday tidying his locker at Yankee Stadium, but the bigger issue hanging over him had nothing to do with the dozens of pairs of shoes surrounding his stall.
The New York Yankees are preparing to open their Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox , and manager Aaron Boone is considering a lineup decision that could put Chisholm on the bench for Game 1.
Boston is set to start left-hander Payton Tolle on Tuesday, with another lefty, Ranger Suarez , lined up if the series reaches a deciding Game 3. That has prompted Boone to consider using Anthony Volpe at second base as part of a possible platoon.
Chisholm , though, has no doubt about what he wants. Asked whether he expected to start Game 1, he replied simply: “Yeah.”
The follow-up was more revealing. Would he be angry if Boone left him out?
“Who wouldn’t be?” Chisholm said. “As a competitor, who wouldn’t be? It’s the playoffs. You want to play.”
Volpe forced his way into conversation
Boone ’s dilemma is not purely about Chisholm ’s health. The Yankees second baseman returned last week after spending 12 days on the injured list with a bruised thumb and went 2-for-10 across three games.
He had been in better form before the injury, batting .357 over an 18-game stretch beginning August 22.
His season-long splits, however, give Boone something to consider. Chisholm hit .218 against left-handed pitching with a .650 OPS, compared with a .738 OPS against right-handers.
Volpe has also made the decision more complicated. After being recalled from Triple-A, he filled in at second base for the first time in his major-league career while Chisholm was sidelined. He appeared in 10 games, starting nine at the position, and gave Boone another viable option.
“Volpe’s very much in play,” Boone said. “The platoon stuff is in play there. Obviously Jazz is just coming back from the thumb.”
Boone also admitted Chisholm ’s limited preparation since returning remains part of the equation.
“I would have liked another one or two, but the weather didn’t really cooperate this weekend,” he said. “Anthony’s put himself very much in the mix to be a part of the equation.”
Chisholm ready to make case to Boone
Chisholm has never been shy about challenging decisions, and he doesn't intend to change now that the stakes are higher.
“I always do that,” he said when asked whether he would speak directly with Boone . “No matter what it is, I’ve always been like that. I’ve never been a person to shy away from a hard conversation with anybody, even if I’m in the wrong. So, yeah.”
The 28-year-old finished the regular season batting .231 with 19 home runs, 55 RBI and 41 stolen bases, numbers that fell short of his 31-homer, 31-steal season in 2025.
October, however, offers Chisholm the chance to redefine how his year is remembered.
“To go out there and win a World Series, that’s all you want to do,” he said. “That’s the main goal from the beginning of the season.”
Whether Boone gives him that opportunity from the opening pitch is now one of the Yankees ’ most intriguing postseason decisions.
