Yankees Reasoning For Trent Grisham Leading Off In Elimination Game Does Not Make Much Sense

Baseball Now argues that New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone's decision to place Trent Grisham in the leadoff spot for Wednesday's elimination game against the Tampa Bay Rays does not make sense. Boone explained he chose Grisham to generate traffic on base for hitters Ben Rice, Luis Garcia Jr., and Cody Bellinger, citing Grisham's potential to reach base when at his best.

The writer notes Grisham is hitless in the ALDS and batted just .199 with a .303 on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter during the regular season. Baseball Now contends Boone is operating on a hunch hoping someone gets on base ahead of Rice, but Grisham ranks seventh on the team in on-base percentage among regular starters.