Only two Yankees finished the season with a higher slugging percentage than Ben Rice: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

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Yet the lefty-swinging Rice is expected to be on the bench to start Game 1 of the Yankees wild-card series against the Red Sox on Tuesday, with Boston throwing left-hander Garrett Crochet .

Such are the decisions Aaron Boone and the rest of the organization’s brain trust contemplated Monday, the eve of the best-of-three series.

Instead of the lefty Rice at first base or behind the plate, Boone said fellow left-handed swinger Austin Wells would catch Max Fried, with the ri

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