NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm played in 137 games and hit 19 home runs for the New York Yankees this season. Yet the looming specter of Boston Red Sox rookie lefty Payton Tolle was enough to send Chisholm to the bench for Game 1 of the American League wild card series Tuesday, Sept. 29.
While Tolle has at least partially reverse splits, his dominant fastball might overwhelm Chisholm, who has gone from crushing fastballs a year ago to performing meekly against them this season. And former shortstop Anthony Volpe has been too effective down the stretch for Yankees manager Aaron Boone to roll with Chisholm.
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Boone’s perspective? It will take all 26 men to defeat the Red Sox in this best-of-three sprint.
“My expectation is he’ll be ready to go and could play a crucial role as early as tonight,” Boone said Tuesday to Yankees beat reporters before his nightly press conference.
Chisholm struck a confident tone a day earlier, telling reporters Monday in New Yor that he would be “ticked off” if he didn’t start Game 1.
“Yeah, who wouldn’t be?” he said. “As a competitor, who wouldn’t be? It’s the playoffs. You want to play.”
Chisholm has a .170 batting average, three homers and a .607 OPS in 24 career playoff games. Volpe is at .252 with no homers and a .728 OPS in 21 career playoff games.
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
The Philadelphia Phillies line up before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta. The MLB postseason has arrived as the thrills of playoff baseball in the fall has fans ecstatic to watch every moment unfold.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
The Philadelphia Phillies line up before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta. The MLB postseason has arrived as the thrills of playoff baseball in the fall has fans ecstatic to watch every moment unfold.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
A detailed view of Philadelphia Phillies equipment in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
Ha-Seong Kim of the Atlanta Braves is introduced before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
A general view before the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner is tagged out by Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws out Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Derek Hill (49) in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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MLB playoffs open with thrilling Wild Card Series matchups
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber breaks his bat in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
Yankees starting lineup today
George Lombard Jr. (R) SS
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why isn’t Jazz Chisholm playing? Volpe in Yankees lineup vs Red Sox
