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Rizzo called suffering the injury so close to the playoffs \u201cawful timing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll get treatment for much of the week before trying to see if he can withstand the discomfort as Saturday approaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see how it goes and then be honest with the team,\u201d Rizzo said. \u201cI\u2019m not gonna try to come and play if I can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the latest setback for Rizzo, who missed a significant part of the season with a fractured right forearm before returning early this month.<\/p>\n
If Rizzo is unable to play in the first round of the playoffs, the Yankees could turn to Rice or Oswaldo Cabrera to fill in at first.<\/p>\n
Rice showed his unfamiliarity at the position Sunday with a high toss to Ian Hamilton on a Nick Gonzalez grounder in the seventh that went for an error on Rice.<\/p>\n
He also went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts after going 2-for-35 in his previous 14 games with the Yankees.<\/p>\n
Rice ended the year hitting well at SWB before spending much of the last week at the team\u2019s complex in Tampa, Fla., following the conclusion of the minor league season.<\/p>\n
DJ LeMahieu is still working his way back from a hip impingement and has slumped for almost the entire year, even when healthy.<\/p>\n
Boone also noted that Trent Grisham and Jon Berti have taken grounders at first, but the manager said they liked how Rice hit after he was sent back to Triple-A and that they were comfortable with playing Cabrera anywhere on the diamond.<\/p>\n<\/button>Ben Rice reacts after striking out during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSince the Yankees have the luxury of nearly a week off, Boone said they would look at several different options to potentially take over for Rizzo.<\/p>\n
As for Rice, Boone said it was \u201cimportant to get him in there [Sunday]. He could be playing a big role for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old Rice hit well for most of the first few weeks after he was called up in June after Rizzo\u2019s arm injury but mostly struggled at the plate for the final month he was in The Bronx before Rizzo returned Sept. 1.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI think he did that well when he came up,\u201d Boone said of Rice. \u201cHe came up this year and was thrust into it as a rookie, having not a lot of playing experience at that time at first base.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Whoever the Yankees go with, they will certainly miss Rizzo\u2019s veteran presence.<\/p>\n
His defense has stood out, especially recently, with none of Rizzo\u2019s replacements standing out.<\/p>\n
As for Rizzo\u2019s bat, he\u2019s been a shell of his former self for much of the past two seasons, due in part to injuries.<\/p>\n