The Yankees will sit Jose Caballero on Thursday after he was hit by a pitch in Wednesday’s loss to the Rangers, with Ben Rice also out.

A key part of the Yankees’ infield was kept out of Thursday’s lineup after Jose Caballero was hit by a pitch earlier this week, raising both lineup questions and fresh concerns for fans during New York’s push to finish strong against the Texas Rangers.

New York will be without starting shortstop Jose Caballero on Thursday as it closes out a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Thursday afternoon.. The decision comes after Wednesday’s 6-1 loss. a result that followed a fast. game-to-game turnaround that left the Yankees looking to manage their lineup carefully.

In the lopsided defeat on Wednesday, Caballero was hit by a pitch on the elbow.. Even so. he stayed in the game. a detail that the Yankees’ team leadership and fans are likely weighing when assessing whether the incident is serious or simply something that warrants a scheduled rest day.. With Thursday arriving quickly, New York opted to give Caballero a day off.

The Yankees’ Thursday lineup reflects that change.. Paul Goldschmidt will be at first base, with Aaron Judge listed as the designated hitter.. Cody Bellinger moves to right field, while Amed Rosario is at third base.. J.P.. Chisholm Jr.. will start at second base, Jasson Domínguez is set for left field, and Tommy Grisham takes center field.. Max Schuemann is penciled in at shortstop, with Jose Treviño (Escarra) listed behind the plate.

New York will also be missing Ben Rice, who has now missed the entire series.. Rice left Sunday’s game with an injury. and he has remained unavailable through the Yankees’ first two games of this set.. The simultaneous absence of Rice and Caballero means the Yankees are forced to reshape both their lineup flexibility and their infield rhythm heading into the series finale.

Although Caballero stayed in Wednesday’s game after the elbow hit. Thursday’s benching still carries weight because he has been one of the Yankees’ more surprising performers this season.. Through the season to date, Caballero is hitting .256 with four home runs and 13 RBIs for New York.. If the injury were to extend beyond a day. it could affect a major component of the team’s plan at shortstop.

The stakes are also tied to roster decisions New York has already made this season.. Caballero’s strong play has contributed to the Yankees’ earlier decision to option Anthony Volpe to Triple-A. underscoring how much value the organization has placed in Caballero’s role when evaluating who belongs in the lineup right away.

For Thursday, that role shifts to Max Schuemann, who is making the start at shortstop. The report notes that Schuemann has had only one at-bat for the Yankees this season, a reminder that New York’s lineup shake-up is coming with limited recent game time at the position.

Yankees fans reacted quickly to the news, especially because two key bats and defensive options are now sitting out.. One fan wrote that with Rice and Caballero both out. New York will lose the series. while another questioned whether the team was prepared to “win the series” after the lineup announcement.. Others expressed disappointment and frustration with the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s matchup.

Concerns were also directed at the injury situation.. Fans said they were worried about Rice’s status despite comments attributed to Aaron Boone indicating Rice would not need an injured-list stint.. Even with those reassurances. Rice has missed four straight games. and that continued absence appears to be shaping the way fans view New York’s chances in the series finale.

Caballero’s day off also drew attention in fan discussion. with some noting the timing of the decision and how quickly it came after Wednesday’s game.. Reporter Bryan Hoch stated that Ben Rice remained out with a left-hand contusion and that Caballero received a day too after being hit by a pitch on his left elbow.. That framing suggests the Yankees are treating the situation as manageable, but not something to push through on short rest.

Around the same time, additional fan reactions echoed the emotional tension of a series-ending game. Some supporters said they were taking a “wait and see” approach, while others pointed to the lineup decisions as indicators of what may come next for New York.

Aaron Boone praised Caballero’s performance earlier in the season. and his comments help explain why the Yankees’ decision-making has been complicated.. Boone said Caballero has been “playing the heck out of the position” and doing so at a high level. which made it harder for New York to justify changes at shortstop.

Before the Yankees opted to move Volpe to Triple-A, Boone said Caballero’s play was a key reason why the decision was difficult. In his view, the organization had to keep working through what immediate roles existed and how best to align them with who was producing most effectively on the field.

In this context, Thursday’s lineup becomes more than a routine rest move.. Caballero’s benching after an elbow hit puts New York’s depth on display and tests how quickly the Yankees can adapt if the injury lingers longer than expected.. With the Yankees positioned atop the AL East at 25-12. the series finale against Texas carries extra importance. and the health status of both Rice and Caballero could influence how New York approaches upcoming games.

Yankees Jose Caballero Ben Rice injury Rangers vs Yankees MLB lineup news Aaron Boone comments AL East standings