Yanks with an interesting lineup vs Lefties

The Bronx, NY — Aaron Boone released his first lineup vs. a lefty for the 2025 season, and Yankees fans are very concerned.

I actually don’t hate the lineup today, and before you raise your eyebrows, let me explain my thinking. Manager Aaron Boone mentioned this morning that he was debating between Paul Goldschmidt and Anthony Volpe to lead off, and ultimately he opted for the veteran first baseman. I actually agree with Boone on this move, and it's not necessarily a slight on Volpe.

My reasoning stems from a desire to see Anthony Volpe truly become comfortable and thrive hitting in the bottom third of the lineup, which I believe is where his skillset will be most consistently utilized throughout the season. By slotting him lower, it allows him to face a wider variety of pitching matchups and potentially drive in more runs with runners on base, taking some of the pressure off him at the very top of the order, where we have seen him struggle in his career. It's about fostering long-term comfort and maximizing his offensive contributions in a role where he's likely to spend the majority of his time.

Now, I know a some of the fanbase does not like Cody Bellinger hitting second, but hear me out on this as well. Placing Bellinger in the two-hole, followed by Aaron Judge in the crucial third spot, is a strategic move designed to create a relentless top of the order that opposing teams will struggle to navigate, especially as the game progresses and they turn to their bullpen. By positioning two high-impact hitters like Bellinger and Judge back-to-back, it puts immense pressure on the opposing pitcher to avoid mistakes. If they manage to get through Bellinger, they immediately face the daunting task of dealing with Aaron Judge.

This makes it significantly harder for opposing managers to deploy their bullpen effectively in the later innings. They can't simply bring in their best reliever for just one of these hitters; they have to contend with the potential for significant damage from both. This strategy aims to wear down opposing pitching staffs and create more opportunities for the Yankees to score runs throughout the game, making that heart of the order a true gauntlet for anyone on the mound.

Pablo Reyes will get his first start in the Bronx today, playing third base. When manager Aaron Boone was asked about slotting in Reyes over Oswald Peraza, he said

"Pablo's just been so consistent all spring. He's done a really good job defensively, his versatility, he's played everywhere. He's done a good job in the field. He's really swung the bat well."

Also, important to note that Trent Grisham is batting 9th and playing center today. Grish has better numbers vs. Lefties in his Carrer, yet the Yankees never played him against Lefties. This could also be a defensive move, but I don’t think so.

On Thursday, Grisham was sent out to play Center, moving Bellinger to Left in the 8th inning, replacing Dominguez in the game. Dominguez is in the lineup, but is slotted as the DH today. When Boone was asked about Dominguez’ defense, he said

"I feel like he keeps getting better. I thought his work in spring training was excellent."

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