Yankees, facing elimination, change lineup for G4

NEW YORK — Pushed to the brink of elimination, the New York Yankees made two changes to their lineup for Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Giancarlo Stanton, one of the team’s two best hitters in October, was moved down from the cleanup spot to fifth, switching with Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Flipping the two players creates more left-right balance in the lineup — Stanton is right-handed and Chisholm bats left-handed — after the right-handed-hitting Aaron Judge in the three-hole to counter the Dodgers’ bullpen game. Splitting the right-handers avoids giving the Dodgers an advantage with a right-handed reliever for multiple batters.

Still, moving Stanton down could come at a cost. Stanton is batting .298 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and a 1.110 OPS in the postseason. He homered in Game 1 and has four hits in the series, making him one of the Yankees’ few consistent performers. Chisholm had three hits in the first two games of the World Series — and three steals in Game 1 — but he’s hitting just .170 with a .475 OPS in the playoffs.

The other change to the Yankees’ lineup is Austin Wells‘ inclusion at catcher after he didn’t start in Game 2. The rookie catcher came off the bench Monday to go 0-for-2. He’s 4-for-43 (.093) with 19 strikeouts in the postseason.

The Yankees are looking to become the first team to overcome a 3-0 deficit in World Series history.

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