Spencer

Jones

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is sticking with the same lineup that was shutout by Rays ace Drew Rasmussen, who carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, and closer Bryan Baker in a Game 1 defeat. It’ll be eight left-handed batters getting a look at Freddy Peralta as he makes his Tampa Bay postseason debut in this one. Here’s the full lineup: Ben Rice (DH), Cody Bellinger (LF), Luis García Jr. (1B), Spencer Jones (RF), George Lombard Jr. (SS), Chisholm (2B), Trent Grisham (CF), Austin Wells (C) and Ryan McMahon (3B).

Jones was held out of action on Saturday due to minor left foot soreness, but he’s right back in there as expected on Sunday afternoon in Arizona. He’ll start in center field and bat sixth against Diamondbacks’ right-hander Corbin Burnes.

Jones expects to be back on Sunday. José Caballero is starting in center field tonight against the D-backs,

Jones’ home run was his 10th of the season. He hit a three-run shot off Twins reliever Taylor Rogers in the sixth inning. It was Jones’ first home run since September 1, a span of 11 games where he hit .333 with three double and six RBI despite not leaving the yard. He’s hitting .259 with a .783 OPS and 37 RBI in 78 games this year.

Jones did his damage during a six-run uprising in the seventh inning, with his two-run single extending the Yankees’ lead to 6-2. He then rode home on Anthony Volpe’s grand slam. With his three-hit evening, the 25-year-old slugger is now hitting .255/.333/.452 with nine homers, 33 RBI and nine stolen bases in his first 235 plate appearances with the Bombers.

After homering Monday and Tuesday, Jones got the nod over Trent Grisham against lefty Reid Detmers tonight, but he ended up with his first golden sombrero as a major leaguer. He’s up to 76 strikeouts in 210 plate appearances as a major leaguer, but if anything, that 36 percent rate is probably a little better than expected; he finished at 37 percent in Double-A in 2024 and 35 percent between Double- and Triple-A last year. And he’s hitting a respectable .239/.314/.441 anyway.

Jones put the Yankees on the board early, taking Grayson Rodriguez deep for a two-run blast in the first inning. He later drew a walk and stole second in the sixth before walking again and scoring a run in the eighth. The 25-year-old slugger has homered in back-to-back games and is up to nine with nine steals while hitting .245/.320/.451 across 206 plate appearances.

Bellinger will get a breather in the second game of Saturday’s twin bill with left-hander Alec Gamboa starting on the mound for the Red Sox. Spencer Jones will draw a start in his place in left field and will bat seventh for the Bombers.

Heliot Ramos, meanwhile, is making his first start in six days against Red Sox left-hander Patrick Sandoval. With Cody Bellinger back, it looks like Jones and Ramos could be in a straight platoon for now, though Jones could maybe start over Trent Grisham against some lefties. Jones actually has a 1.079 OPS in 34 plate appearances in lefty-lefty matchups. He has a .648 OPS in 155 plate appearances against righties.

Jones delivered an RBI double in the second and was also caught stealing for the first time as a big-leaguer. He has seven homers and eight steals in his first 57 games with the Yankees. Of course, it has come with a 36 percent strikeout rate. Heliot Ramos was the odd man out with Cody Bellinger back in the lineup, but playing time will be something to watch as New York gets healthier down the stretch.