{"id":669992,"date":"2026-04-08T09:52:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/669992\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T09:52:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:52:16","slug":"aaron-boones-smart-pregame-decision-rewarded-the-yankees-in-win-over-athletics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/669992\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Boone\u2019s smart pregame decision rewarded the Yankees in win over Athletics"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK \u2014 It was a bad night for the Aaron Boone haters.<\/p>\n

It would have been easy for Boone to write Ryan McMahon\u2019s name on the lineup card Tuesday night with the Athletics starting right-hander Aaron Civale. The New York Yankees had planned on having a straight platoon at third base this season, with McMahon facing right-handed pitching and Amed Rosario playing against lefties. Civale entered Tuesday\u2019s game with close to neutral splits, though, so Boone opted for Rosario in a low-risk, high-reward possibility.<\/p>\n

McMahon has had a brutal start to the season. His .363 OPS is among MLB\u2019s worst, and his defense has not been to its usual elite level. Rosario entered Tuesday\u2019s game with just six at-bats all season, as the Yankees have only faced one left-handed starter (San Francisco\u2019s Robbie Ray) through 10 games.<\/p>\n

So, with McMahon scuffling and Civale\u2019s splits, it made sense to give Rosario the start. He responded by blasting two home runs, both against righties, justifying Boone\u2019s decision and leading the Yankees to a 5-3 win, pushing their record to an AL-best 8-2.<\/p>\n

Will you accept this Rosario?\ud83c\udf39 pic.twitter.com\/r0SQEfsPia<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New York Yankees (@Yankees) April 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In the second inning, Rosario turned on an up-and-in sinker offering from Civale for a no-doubter over the left-field wall. The offense then went mostly cold until the eighth inning, when former Yankee Mark Leiter Jr., who carded a 4.89 ERA in 80 games across two seasons with New York, entered the game.<\/p>\n

Leiter allowed four runs, including Rosario\u2019s second blast, a three-run homer that was tattooed<\/a>. Rosario equaled the number of homers he hit off righties last season in just one game.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t win that game without him,\u201d Yankees starter Cam Schlittler said.<\/p>\n

Boone could have pinch-hit for Rosario in the sixth inning, with right-handed reliever Justin Sterner in the game. Sterner entered having allowed a .733 OPS by righties, versus .517 from lefties, so Boone followed the splits and left Rosario in the game.<\/p>\n

While Rosario did not come through there, hitting into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, Boone did tell The Athletic<\/a> before the season that he wanted to be more platoon-conscious this season, an area in which he felt other American League East teams excelled. He made a decision that was not popular during Sunday\u2019s game when he pinch-hit the struggling Jos\u00e9 Caballero for left-handed-hitter J.C. Escarra against the Miami Marlins. The splits said that was the right call in that moment, too, it just didn\u2019t work out.<\/p>\n

Rosario facing Leiter required a similar decision. Because of his splitter, lefties struggle against Leiter, while righties crush him. So, while the Yankees didn\u2019t have the platoon advantage on paper, it would not have made sense to turn to McMahon against Leiter. Staying with Rosario, even against another righty, paid off, even if Boone didn\u2019t want to take credit after the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just like seeing our guys have success,\u201d Boone said. \u201cIt\u2019s about the Yankees. You\u2019re invested in these guys, and you always get excited when they do well. We brought Rosie back because not only is he a really good player, but he\u2019s a tremendous teammate and sets an amazing example for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the lineup for Wednesday\u2019s game is released, Yankees fans could be in for a surprise. It\u2019ll be a shock to see Rosario\u2019s name listed with the starters, even after his offensive explosion on Tuesday. That\u2019s because the Athletics are scheduled to start Luis Severino, who overpowers righties. McMahon will likely be starting at third base. The faster fans can accept the Yankees opting for platoon advantages, the easier the next 152 games will be.<\/p>\n

The Yankees will face several left-handed starting pitchers in the days ahead, so Rosario should be back as soon as Thursday against Jeffrey Springs. But if McMahon continues to struggle, Boone may not have much of a choice but to abandon the platoon plans.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompetition is always a good thing,\u201d Boone said.<\/p>\n