Jazz or Volpe at 2B? 'The platoon stuff is in play'

Last year, a visibly upset Jazz Chisholm Jr. was benched for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, as manager Aaron Boone opted to go with the rigthy-hitting Amed Rosario against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet.

On Tuesday, the Yankees will be facing another hard-throwing lefthander, rookie Payton Tolle, and Chisholm said before Monday’s workout that he hadn’t spoken with Boone about the lineup plans for the opener.

“We haven’t had that talk yet,” Chisholm said at his locker. “But I feel like with Boonie, he will come up to me and let me know what’s going on.”

Chisholm batted .218 with a .650 OPS vs. lefties this season, and is 1-for-5 with a home run and two strikeouts against Tolle. Boone could go with Anthony Volpe as a righty option for second base, and the manager said he’s open to the idea of a platoon at the position.

“It’s one of those things I’m considering,” Boone said. “Volpe’s very much in play. The platoon stuff is in play there. Obviously Jazz is just coming back from the thumb (sprain). He was able to get a couple games in. Would have liked another one or two, but the weather didn’t really cooperate this weekend. So Anthony’s put himself very much in the mix to be a part of the equation.”

Chisholm said he expects to be starting Game 1 but understands Boone’s matchup strategy, if that’s the way this plays out.

“It’s playoff baseball, so it’s different,” Chisholm said.

Still, the pending free agent believes in riding with your best players, no matter the time of year.

“That’s what I grew up watching and seeing, you know what I mean?” Chisholm said. “It’s always been that.”

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.