Rizzo’s playoff status unknown after HBP in loss

NEW YORK — First baseman Anthony Rizzo fractured two fingers in his right hand when he was hit by a pitch Saturday, one week before the New York Yankees are scheduled to open the postseason, manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees’ 9-4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium.

Rizzo sustained the injury on an 88 mph slider from left-hander Ryan Borucki in the seventh inning. He immediately grabbed his hand in pain and was tended to by a trainer. He initially remained in the game to run, but he didn’t take the field for the eighth inning.

Boone said Rizzo’s status for the playoffs was not known. Rizzo was not made available to speak to reporters after the game.

“We’ll see what we have as the week moves forward,” Boone said. “It doesn’t totally rule him out. It’s something that’s a pain tolerance thing so we’ll see as the days unfold here, what we have.”

With the Yankees’ season finale Sunday, 2024 will go down as the worst offensive season of Rizzo’s career. The 14-year veteran, who has a $17 million team option and $6 million buyout for next season, remains a strong defender at first base but posted career lows for a full season in batting average (.228), on-base percentage (.301), slugging percentage (.335) and home runs (8) across 92 games.

He sat out more than two months when he fractured his right forearm in a collision at first base against the Boston Red Sox in June. He recorded a .247/.345/.315 slash line with zero home runs and five doubles in 22 games upon being activated from the injured list Sept. 1.

Rizzo’s first injury prompted the Yankees to call up Ben Rice, a catcher by trade with limited experience at first base, and primarily play him at first base for his first major league stint. Boone on Saturday named Rice as a possible replacement for the postseason should Rizzo not be available. Utility man Oswaldo Cabrera is another option.

Rice, 25, jumped out to a blistering start over his first 17 games, highlighted by his three-home run performance against the Red Sox on July 6. He finished the day with a .294 batting average and .972 OPS. From there, he slashed .112/.209/.235 with three home runs over his next 32 games before he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he batted .269 with nine home runs and a 1.107 OPS in 19 games.

“He’ll definitely be in the mix,” Boone said of Rice.

Cabrera, who made his five career starts at first base this season, is batting .247 with a .661 OPS. He started at first base Friday and replaced Rizzo at first base for the final two innings Saturday after starting at shortstop.

Whether he or Rice will be needed to replace Rizzo for the playoffs remains to be determined.

“It’s a pain tolerance thing,” Boone said. “It’s not something you’re in jeopardy [of worsening] when you play. It’s just, ‘Can you handle it?'”

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