The New York Yankees are stepping into October with a heavyweight clash against the Boston Red Sox, and already, manager Aaron Boone has stirred debate with his lineup card . Game 1 of this best-of-three Wild Card showdown at Yankee Stadium will feature Max Fried on the mound for the Yankees, matched up against Boston’s hard-throwing lefty Garrett Crochet. But it’s not just the pitching duel grabbing headlines—it’s Boone’s choice at first base.

When the Yankees posted their starting lineup, many fans expected to see Ben Rice at first base after his scorching September. Instead, Boone gave the nod to veteran Paul Goldschmidt. The decision surprised some, given Rice’s late-season surge—he closed out the regular season with a 157 wRC+ in September, looking every bit like a breakout star. On

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