Yankees Shake Up Lineup for Game Two Against Rays, Bellinger Gets the Leadoff Nod
The New York Yankees have released their batting order for Saturday’s second game against the Tampa Bay Rays, and there’s a surprising change at the top.
With Trent Grisham getting a rest day, manager Aaron Boone was forced to make some adjustments—and in a move that’s turning heads, Cody Bellinger will step into the leadoff spot.
Boone Makes a Bold Call
Grisham has been the team’s catalyst lately, while Bellinger’s bat has been more hit-or-miss—akin to a cold engine that doesn’t always turn over. Despite that, Boone is betting on past success to spark present results.
“Somebody’s got to do it,” Boone said to the media, as if the decision was more duty than inspiration. “He’s done it before.” Of course, that “before” refers to a version of Bellinger that hasn’t shown up much since 2019.
Slumping into the Spotlight
Since donning Yankee pinstripes, Bellinger has posted an underwhelming .196 batting average, .271 on-base percentage, and .343 slugging—good for a .614 OPS. That’s not exactly what you’d expect from someone leading off.
There have been occasional flashes of his former MVP form, but they’ve been fleeting—more illusion than resurgence. Asking him to set the tone from the top of the lineup feels like putting an out-of-practice driver behind the wheel in heavy traffic. The leadoff role is demanding: it means more at-bats, more pressure, and more responsibility.
High Risk, Possible Reward
That said, baseball’s nothing if not unpredictable. Maybe this lineup tweak jolts Bellinger out of his slump. Stranger turnarounds have happened. Sometimes a change of scenery—or batting order—can work wonders.
The Yankees are hoping this shuffle adds some spark to their offense. Whether this proves to be a savvy move or a questionable gamble, all eyes will be on Bellinger’s first at-bat.
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