Jazz Chisholm Jr. not in Yankees’ lineup Thursday

Jazz Chisholm is back from the injured list, and Boone told Talkin’ Yanks that he prefers to keep Chisholm at second base and George Lombard at shortstop. That will mean that Volpe needs to play third base in order to remain in the starting lineup, which would push Jose Caballero back to the bench. Volpe is hitting .263 in 11 games in September with one home run, seven RBI scored, and four runs scored. He’s certainly better than Ryan McMahon, but how he handles the position defensively will determine if he’s a better option than Caballero.

Chisholm returns to New York’s lineup for the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader against the division-rival Rays following a nearly two-week absence recovering from a right thumb sprain. The dynamic 28-year-old power/speed combo threat has posted 19 homers and 40 steals in 134 games this season. He’s one round-tripper shy of the second 20-homer, 40-steal campaign of his career.

Anthony Volpe is starting at second base in the first game. Chisholm’s return from his sprained thumb presumably will knock Max Schuemann off the Yankees roster.

The dynamic 28-year-old infielder has been sidelined since September 9 due to a right thumb sprain but has made significant progress in his recovery over the past few days. It sounds like he should be ready to go early in the week, which will cut into the playing time of Anthony Volpe who has been seeing regular action at second base.

Chisholm has been shelved since September 9 due to a right thumb sprain. It sounds like he’s making considerable progress in his recovery though and could only be days away from a return to the Yankees’ lineup.

Volpe came up in the top of the ninth with two on, two out, and the Yankees trailing by two. He delivered a two-run double off Minnesota closer Yoendrys Gómez, continuing his hot hitting since being recalled from Triple-A. Volpe has now started six of the team’s past seven games at second base with Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the IL.

Volpe certainly made the most of his return to the Bronx on Thursday. He smacked an RBI single off of Ryan Feltner in the second inning that increased the Yankees’ lead to 3-1. He also swiped third base before being stranded there. Volpe then delivered a 352-foot (104.0-mph EV) grand slam off of Jimmy Herget in the seventh inning that made it a 10-2 ballgame. With his three-hit attack, the 25-year-old infielder is now slashing .251/.333/.349 with just two homers, 24 RBI and eight stolen bases in 198 plate appearances with the Yankees this season.

Volpe could conceivably get a trial at second base while Jazz Chisholm Jr. is out — he was playing the position at Triple-A — but it’s more likely his playing time remains up-and-down, as it was when he was up before George Lombard Jr. was handed the keys at shortstop.

Based on Aaron Boone’s comments yesterday, it sounds like this may just be a minimum stint on the IL after he is shut down from baseball activities for 7-10 days. There doesn’t appear to be much danger of Chisholm missing the playoffs, but obviously given where we are in the regular season, teams in need of immediate stats can move on.

Boone elaborated that Chisholm, who is available to pinch-run off the bench during Wednesday’s contest against the Rockies, will be shut down from baseball activities for at least 7-10 days. The 28-year-old power/speed combo threat, who has racked up 19 homers and 40 steals in 134 games this season, suffered the injury on a slide into second base during the ninth inning of Tuesday’s game. There’s a chance that he’s done for the rest of the regular season with just over two weeks remaining on the calendar. Needless to say, it’s a significant loss for the Yankees as they try to overtake the Rays for the AL East division crown down the home stretch. He’ll be officially placed on the injured list before Thursday’s series finale with Anthony Volpe coming up to take his roster spot.