Ben Rice C/1B/DH NYY Fri 7/5/24 12:31 AM
Ben Rice
C/1B/DH NYY
Rice went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in a loss to the Reds on Thursday.
EDGE Analysis
Rice hit out of the leadoff spot for the first time as a major-leaguer and produced his first big-league home run with a 407-foot solo shot in the fifth inning. The catcher/first baseman has some intriguing qualities befitting of the leadoff role -- he's demonstrated good plate discipline throughout his professional career and has a .360 OBP along with a 7:8 BB:K through 42 plate appearances with the Yankees. Rice's power is an asset too; he hit 15 long balls in 60 minor-league games this season after going deep 20 times in the minors last year.
Ben Rice C/1B/DH NYY Thu 7/4/24 10:15 AM
Ben Rice
C/1B/DH NYY
Rice will start at first base and bat leadoff in Thursday's game versus the Reds.
EDGE Analysis
The Yankees have dropped the struggling Anthony Volpe down to the No. 6 spot in the batting order and Rice will receive the first opportunity in Volpe's old slot. Rice is slashing .270/.378/.351 with a 6:7 K:BB in his first 14 contests in the majors. Certainly, it would be a major boost for his fantasy prospects if he can manage to stick at the top of the Yankees' lineup.
Ben Rice C/1B/DH NYY Wed 7/3/24 3:04 PM
Ben Rice
C/1B/DH NYY
Rice is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Reds.
EDGE Analysis
With southpaw Andrew Abbott on the hill for the Reds, the Yankees are going with right-handed-hitting J.D. Davis at first base. The left-handed-hitting Rice has now started one of four games versus lefties since Davis was acquired.
Ben Rice C/1B/DH NYY Fri 6/28/24 4:15 PM
Ben Rice
C/1B/DH NYY
Rice is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Toronto.
EDGE Analysis
The lefty-hitting Rice will get a breather as southpaw Yusei Kikuchi takes the mound for the Blue Jays. Instead, J.D. Davis will get the start at first base and bat fourth.
Ben Rice C/1B/DH NYY Tue 6/25/24 4:11 PM
Ben Rice
C/1B/DH NYY
Rice is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets.
EDGE Analysis
With J.D. Davis joining the Yankees roster, Rice is expected to enter the strong side of a platoon with Davis at first base. Rice will take a seat Tuesday for the first time since being called up June 18 as the Mets trot out southpaw David Peterson.
Ben Rice C/1B/DH NYY Mon 6/24/24 2:04 PM
Ben Rice
C/1B/DH NYY
Rice went 2-for-3 in Sunday's loss to Atlanta.
EDGE Analysis
Rice was one of two Yankees with multiple hits in the contest, and it was the first multi-hit effort of his career. The 25-year-old started at first base for the fifth time in six contests since being called up, and three of those games have been against left-handed starters, against whom he's gone just 1-for-9. Rice has otherwise held his own overall in going 5-for-17 with a 3:3 BB:K, but he'll likely begin yielding some starts against southpaws to J.D. Davis, whom the Yankees acquired Sunday.
Ben Rice C/1B/DH NYY Thu 6/20/24 2:15 PM
Ben Rice
C/1B/DH NYY
Rice is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.
EDGE Analysis
Rice started at first base in each of his first two games after being promoted, going 2-for-7 with a walk. He'll begin this one on the bench, with DJ LeMahieu handling the cold corner and Oswaldo Cabrera the hot corner.