Rice is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.
After starting each of the last four games while going 4-for-17 with two solo home runs, a double and two additional runs, Rice looks to be getting a routine breather for the series finale versus Tampa Bay. Rice's absence from the lineup will open up a spot in the starting nine for Trent Grisham, who will cover center field while Cody Bellinger slides over to right field and Aaron Judge serves as the Yankees' designated hitter.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Will get more defensive reps
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that he plans to use Rice at first base "a little bit here" and is "going to try" to work him in at catcher during blowout games, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Boone has begun to think about how he will deploy Rice -- who has a .958 OPS with eight home runs -- when the Yankees get Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) back from the injured list. Rice saw one inning at catcher in the April 27 win against the Blue Jays and Boone wanted to play him behind the plate Tuesday in Baltimore but decided against it after Rice was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. The 26-year-old Rice is a natural catcher and works out there and at first base every day. Rice could see enough game action at catcher to earn eligibility there in fantasy leagues, although it probably won't happen anytime soon. Stanton is progressing in his rehab but is not close to returning, so Boone has time to mull how to use Rice once the team is at full strength. The manager did say he is not considering using Rice at any unfamiliar positions, so when Rice plays in the field it will be at first base or catcher.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Belts two homers Tuesday
Rotowire
Rice went 3-for-5 with two solo home runs and four runs scored in Tuesday's 15-3 win over the Orioles.
Rice was on the bench for the series opener Monday, and the additional rest paid off. He was one of five Yankee players to hit a home run in Tuesday's contest, with both of his two solo shots came off the returning Kyle Gibson in the first and second innings. Rice is up to eight home runs on the season, which surpasses his mark from 2024 (seven) in 72 less plate appearances. He has a .998 OPS with 22 runs scored and 13 RBI this season.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Idle for series opener
Rotowire
Rice is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles.
Though the Orioles are sending right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano to the hill, the left-handed-hitting Rice will hit the bench for the series opener in Baltimore, breaking a streak of five consecutive starts. Rice missed two straight starts early last week due to a left elbow contusion, but he went 3-for-19 with a home run, a double and three walks over the ensuing five games, and the Yankees haven't indicated that he's dealing with any setbacks on the health front. With Rice out of the lineup, Trent Grisham will draw a second consecutive start atop the batting order, while Aaron Judge returns to the two hole after batting third behind Rice in Sunday's 5-1 win over Toronto.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Back in action Tuesday
Rotowire
Rice (elbow) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff in Tuesday's game versus the Guardians.
Rice missed each of the previous two contests with a bruised left elbow, but he's ready to go for the second game of the series. He'll carry a .988 OPS into play Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Expected back Tuesday
Rotowire
Manager Aaron Boone expects Rice (elbow) to be back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Guardians, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
Rice has missed his club's last two matchups due to a bruised left elbow. The team will presumably give the first baseman another look Tuesday morning before making a final decision on his availability for the second game of the series.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Suffers bruised elbow
Rotowire
Rice was diagnosed with a left elbow contusion after getting hit by a pitch in Saturday's game against the Rays, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Rice was plunked twice during Saturday's contest and ran for himself on both occasions, but the Yankees decided to pull him in the sixth inning. The 26-year-old slugger also received X-rays and a CT scan on his elbow to make sure he didn't suffer any structural damage, and both tests came back negative, per Boland. He can be considered day-to-day.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Idle vs. southpaw
Rotowire
Rice is not in the Yankees' starting lineup against the Royals on Wednesday.
Rice has received three starts against left-handed pitchers this season, but he'll take a seat Wednesday with the Royals sending southpaw Kris Bubic to the mound. With Rice beginning the contest in the dugout, Aaron Judge will serve as the designated hitter while Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham and Jasson Dominguez man the outfield. Rice has started the season slashing .273/.385/.618 with 10 walks, two stolen bases, 12 runs scored, five home runs and seven RBI in 65 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Belts fourth homer
Rotowire
Rice went 2-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 8-4 win over the Giants.
The 26-year-old slugger took Lou Trivino deep in the sixth inning, ripping a line drive over the fence in the right-field corner that left his bat at 113.2 mph. Rice appears to be headed for a breakout campaign, slashing .310/.431/.690 through 13 games with four homers, five RBI and 11 runs while settling in at the top of the Yankees' batting order -- over his last seven games, Rice has batted exclusively leadoff against right-handed pitching, and second against lefties.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Idle Sunday
Rotowire
Rice is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
The left-handed-hitting Rice had started each of the past six games, but he'll take a seat Sunday for the matinee contest while the Pirates send a lefty to the bump in Andrew Heaney. Aaron Judge will get a day off from defensive duties and serve as the Yankees' designated hitter in Rice's stead.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Swats first homer of season
Rotowire
Rice went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run in Sunday's 12-3 win against Milwaukee.
Rice got in on a homer-happy weekend by the Yankees, smashing a 383-foot solo shot to right field in the second inning. The 26-year-old has started at DH in two of New York's first three games and has gone 3-for-6 with three runs scored. As long as Rice continues to get regular playing time, he can be a useful source of power in fantasy -- he belted 31 long balls over 129 regular-season contests across the minors and majors last season.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Idle against southpaw
Rotowire
Rice isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.
With southpaw Nestor Cortes set to throw the first pitch for Milwaukee, the lefty-hitting Rice will remain on the bench to begin the game. Jasson Dominguez will serve as the DH instead while Cody Bellinger starts in left field, allowing Trent Grisham to start in center and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Filling DH role in opener
Rotowire
Rice will start at designated hitter and bat eighth in Thursday's opener versus the Brewers.
The Yankees will use Trent Grisham in center field, Cody Bellinger in right field and Aaron Judge at designated hitter some days until Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) returns. However, Rice should get the bulk of the DH duties versus righties, and he'll draw into the lineup Opening Day against Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Secures roster spot
Rotowire
Manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Rice will be included on the Yankees' Opening Day roster, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.
Giancarlo Stanton's elbow issues created an opening at designated hitter, and Rice took advantage of the opportunity during spring training with five homers and an .848 OPS in 69 plate appearances. The 26-year-old is likely to see most of his action at designated hitter but could also get looks at first base and catcher.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Continues to mash
Rotowire
Rice went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.
Rice has homered in back-to-back games as he continues to build his case for a spot on the club's Opening Day roster. He slotted in behind the dish Monday after serving as the designated hitter Sunday, putting his versatility on full display. Rice would likely get looks at first base, catcher and in the DH spot if he were to make the big-league club out of camp.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Making strong case for roster spot
Rotowire
Rice went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League win over Tampa Bay.
Rice batted leadoff in the spring game and played the entire contest at DH. His big hit was a two-run blast to left-center field in the fourth inning. That marked the second homer in three days for Rice, and he has five hits during that span. The 26-year-old is competing for a spot on the Yankees' Opening Day roster as the backup first baseman behind Paul Goldschmidt, and he could also log significant time at DH with Giancarlo Stanton (elbows/calf) having no timeline for his return.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Getting exposure to catcher in camp
Rotowire
Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Rice will work out with the team's catchers in camp in addition to taking reps at first base, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rice has nearly 1,000 innings of catching experience under his belt in the minors, but his defense behind the plate likely isn't strong enough for him to profile as anything more than a backup option at the position in the majors. Still, if Rice can acquit himself well in his catching opportunities during the spring, it could be his ticket to a spot on the Opening Day roster, as the Yankees already have Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton locked in as regulars at first base and designated hitter, respectively. Meanwhile, Austin Wells appears secure as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher, but J.C. Escarra and Jesus Rodriguez -- neither of whom has made their MLB debut -- are the only other backstops on the 40-man roster. Rice hit just .171 and struck out in 27 percent of his plate appearances in his first taste of the majors last season, but he flashed power (seven home runs, six doubles) and drew walks at an 11.6 percent rate.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Recalled Sunday
Rotowire
Rice was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.
The lefty-hitting Rice draws the start at first base and will bat eighth against lefty Bailey Falter and the Pirates. Anthony Rizzo is hoping to be available in the postseason despite suffering a fractured finger Saturday, but Rice could be an injury replacement if Rizzo is unavailable.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: Not starting Saturday
Rotowire
Rice isn't in the Yankees' lineup Saturday against the Cardinals.
Rice went 0-for-3 in Friday's series opener after missing four consecutive games, and he'll take a seat again Saturday even though the right-handed Kyle Gibson will start on the hill for St. Louis. Oswaldo Cabrera will fill in as New York's first baseman and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Yankees' Ben Rice: On bench against lefty
Rotowire
Rice is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
The lefty-hitting Rice will head to the bench for the second day in a row while the Yankees face lefty starting pitchers in consecutive games. DJ LeMahieu will draw the start at first base against Nationals southpaw Mitchell Parker.
![[object Object] Logo](https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/2020/04/22/e9ceb731-8b3f-4c60-98fe-090ab66a2997/screen-shot-2020-04-22-at-11-04-56-am.png)
