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The Yankees’ major weakness is burning them at the worst possible postseason time
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The Yankees’ major weakness is burning them at the worst possible postseason time

CLEVELAND – The Yankees entered the postseason with a problem at first base, thanks to Anthony Rizzo’s broken fingers on his right hand and the inexperience of his replacements at the position.

It wasn’t an issue through their first six games of the postseason.

In Thursday’s 7-5, 10-inning loss to Cleveland in Game 3 of the ALCS, they weren’t so lucky.


Jon Berti makes a play during the Yankees' loss to the Guardians on October 17, 2024.
Jon Berti makes a play during the Yankees’ loss to the Guardians on October 17, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

With left-hander Matt Boyd on the mound for Cleveland, Aaron Boone went with right-hitting Jon Berti first, after the veteran infielder performed well there in the ALDS despite never having played the position before.

And while Berti made no mistakes before being replaced by Rizzo for defensive purposes in the bottom of the eighth, he botched several plays, including one in the third inning that led to a run.

Rizzo also had a few rough innings after entering the game, including a double by Will Brennan that passed him into right field with one out in the eighth and an error on a grounder by Jose Ramirez to lead off the ninth.

Neither runner came around to score.

Fry stranded in the eighth and Ramirez was eliminated on a double play by Josh Naylor.

Rizzo said his hand felt “pretty good” on Thursday.


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It was less than three weeks ago that he broke his fingers when he was hit by a pitch a day before the end of the regular season.

“I just want to take into account that (Rizzo) is playing with broken fingers,” Aaron Boone said before the game. “No matter how well things have gone, I want to keep it that way as much as we can.”

Rizzo said he “felt ready to go… starting or coming off the bench.”


Anthony Rizzo botches a play during the Yankees' loss to the Guardians on October 17, 2024.
Anthony Rizzo botches a play during the Yankees’ loss to the Guardians on October 17, 2024. Aaron Josefczyk/UPI/Shutterstock

Boone also started Jose Trevino behind the plate for the first time since the regular season, again with Trevino’s right-handed bat – and kept the slumping Austin Wells’ lefty bat out of the starting lineup.

Trevino delivered a runscoring single in the second inning, but also was eliminated first and allowed Cleveland to steal a pair of bases.

Wells, like Rizzo, came into the game late, with Wells pinch-hitting for Trevino in the top of the eighth – striking out twice.

The rookie catcher has been hitless in his past 20 at-bats in the playoffs, but he and Rizzo are expected to be back in the lineup for Friday’s Game 4, with Cleveland teaming up with right-hander Gavin Williams.

If Rizzo can’t go, Oswaldo Cabrera would be another option.