Yankees Remove Ben Rice From Lineup for Second Straight Game
The New York Yankees will go with experience over recent production on Tuesday night, as manager Aaron Boone announced on Talkin' Yanks that Paul Goldschmidt will start at first base over Ben Rice for the second straight game against the Los Angeles Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.
The decision comes down to a platoon matchup. Goldschmidt, a right-handed hitter, slashed .336/.411/.570 against left-handed pitching last season across 168 plate appearances, demonstrating he can still punish southpaws even late in his career. His career numbers against lefties are even more pronounced, with a .323 average and 1.007 OPS in over 1,800 at-bats. Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star, has long been regarded as one of the better right-handed bats against southpaws in the league.
Aaron Boone tells us Paul Goldschmidt will start over Ben Rice once again tonight against LHP Reid Detmers pic.twitter.com/ybZzHRktgf
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 14, 2026
The decision raised some eyebrows, especially given how Rice's 2026 campaign has started.
After debuting in June 2024, the 27-year-old Dartmouth product broke out in his first full MLB season last year, hitting 26 home runs across 138 games to establish himself as the Yankees' everyday first baseman. Rice has carried that momentum into 2026, slashing .362/.508/.754 with a 1.253 OPS and leading the league in on-base percentage and OPS. In his last five games, he is batting .429 on six hits, including two doubles and a home run, for 11 total bases.
That production makes it difficult to keep him on the bench, but Boone is willing to take the risk for a favorable matchup.
Detmers presents a legitimate challenge for the Yankees despite returning to the rotation in 2026 after spending last season in the Angels' bullpen. The 26-year-old left-hander, who threw a no-hitter in 2022, has held right-handed batters to a .282 batting average and .766 OPS across three starts this season. He has been even more dominant against left-handed bats, holding them to a .143 average and .583 OPS while striking out seven.
Still, sitting Rice two games in a row raises a broader question about his role going forward. Rice is not in danger of losing his everyday job, but his spot in the lineup will continue to be matchup-dependent. Against lefties, Goldschmidt is the clear preference, and with a roster built around matchup optimization, that dynamic is unlikely to change. As long as a left-hander is on the mound and the numbers favor Goldschmidt, Boone will not hesitate to make the call regardless of what Rice is producing at the plate.
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This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 2:50 PM.