NEW YORK — As manager Aaron Boone put it last week, Ben Rice has become a staple in the middle of the Yankees ’ lineup this season.

Rice’s metrics at the plate this season are remarkable and he’s heading into the playoffs swinging a hot bat. Factoring in his two-homer game against the Orioles on Sunday, the slugging lefty hit an impressive .304/.365/.578 over his final 44 games of the year.

“Benny Barrels has been doing his thing,” Boone said Sunday. “He’s in a great place going in and obviously he can play a big role for us.”

So, surely Rice will be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Yankees’ Wild Card Series against the Red Sox , right?

Well, not necessarily.

Boston has lefty ace Garrett Crochet on the mound. He’s been lights out against pretty much everybody this season, but th

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