NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm played in 137 games and hit 19 home runs for the New York Yankees this season. Yet the looming specter of Boston Red Sox rookie lefty Payton Tolle was enough to send Chisholm to the bench for Game 1 of the American League wild card series Tuesday, Sept. 29.
While Tolle has at least partially reverse splits, his dominant fastball might overwhelm Chisholm, who has gone from crushing fastballs a year ago to performing meekly against them this season. And former shortstop Anthony Volpe has been too effective down the stretch for Yankees manager Aaron Boone to roll with Chisholm.
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Boone’s perspective? It will take all 26 men to defeat the Red Sox in this best-of-three sprint.
“My expectation is he’ll be ready to go and could play a crucial role as early as tonight,” Boone said Tuesday to Yankees beat reporters before his nightly press conference.
Chisholm struck a confident tone a day earlier, telling reporters Monday in New Yor that he would be “ticked off” if he didn’t start Game 1.
“Yeah, who wouldn’t be?” he said. “As a competitor, who wouldn’t be? It’s the playoffs. You want to play.”
Chisholm has a .170 batting average, three homers and a .607 OPS in 24 career playoff games. Volpe is at .252 with no homers and a .728 OPS in 21 career playoff games.
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The San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The San Diego Padres’ Xander Bogaerts celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong steals second base in front of the tag by Jake Cronenworth during the third inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Denis Poroy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong reacts after Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a solo home run during the first inning of Game 1 at Petco Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Orlando Ramirez, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox stand during the national anthem prior to game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Nick Sogard #20 of the Boston Red Sox tags out George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees for a double play during the fourth inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Al Bello, Getty Images)
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New York Yankees third baseman Amed Rosario throws to first for an out during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium.
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Ben Rice of the New York Yankees celebrates on second base after hitting double to center field against Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox during the first inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
(Caleb Bowlin, Getty Images)
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Chicago White Sox pitcher Grant Taylor (31) reacts with Chicago catcher Kyle Teel (8) after game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) stretches to first base to hit a RBI single in the eighth inning against Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
The Houston Astros line up for the beginning of the game against the Chicago White Sox during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Colson Montgomery #12 of the Chicago White Sox hits a home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Lucas Spence of the Houston Astros watches as a home run hit by Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox clears the fence in the fourth inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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Manager Joe Espada of the Houston Astros relieves Bryan King #74 in the second inning against the Chicago White Sox in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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Chicago White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery gets hit by a pitch in the seocnd inning against the Houston Astros during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Daikin Park.
(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)
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Sam Antonacci of the Chicago White Sox slides into home plate to score a run past Yainer Diaz of the Houston Astros in the first inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Sam Antonacci of the Chicago White Sox slides into second base in front of Jeremy Pe–a of the Houston Astros in the first inning in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Houston.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Images)
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The Philadelphia Phillies line up before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta. The MLB postseason has arrived as the thrills of playoff baseball in the fall has fans ecstatic to watch every moment unfold.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Austin Riley of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
A detailed view of Philadelphia Phillies equipment in the dugout before the game against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Ga.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Ha-Seong Kim of the Atlanta Braves is introduced before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
A general view before the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner is tagged out by Atlanta Braves shortstop Ha-Seong Kim in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws out Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Derek Hill (49) in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber breaks his bat in the third inning during game one of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park.
(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
A detailed view of the shoes of Mauricio Dubon of the Atlanta Braves as he sits on the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Bryan de la Cruz of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Edward M. Pio Roda, Getty Images)
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2026 MLB playoffs open with thrilling wild-card series matchups
Michael Harris II of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he scores off an RBI triple by Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on Sept. 29, 2026 in Atlanta.
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)
Yankees starting lineup today
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George Lombard Jr. (R) SS
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why isn’t Jazz Chisholm playing? Volpe in Yankees lineup vs Red Sox
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