Trent Grisham 0-for-5 Performance Sparks Lineup Criticism in Game 3

Yankees manager Aaron Boone faced criticism for putting Trent Grisham in the leadoff spot for Game 3 of the ALDS. Grisham went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in the loss. He struggled during the 2026 season, recording a .308 OBP and 98 wRC+ before suffering a strained hamstring in September. Despite his career .319 OBP and 12.1% walk rate, New York placed Grisham at the top of the lineup in an effort to create traffic, reflecting a rigid organizational approach to player evaluation.