Yankees’ Austin Wells struggles in Game 3 after getting moved up in lineup

Read the original at New York Post ↗
New York Post · collected 2026-10-08 · by Greg Joyce

Quick Summary

Not summarized yet. This article was analyzed before summaries existed, or the model was unreachable at the time. python maintenance.py backfill-article-summaries fills these in.

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

Story summary

Boone's future with the Yankees could hinge on team defense; Martinez (15-6) lost his last two games of the season, giving up six runs over 8 ²/₃ innings. Max Fried allowed one run over six innings to the Bosox in the wild-card round but struggled against Rays in Game 3. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Austin Wells had key moments that affected the game's outcome. The Yankees made four errors in Game 2, including a critical base-running blunder by Wells. Trent Grisham was given the leadoff spot despite being one of the worst leadoff hitters this season. Nick Martinez, Fordham alum, faces Max Fried in what could be a decisive game for both teams. DIRECTV offers a five-day free trial to watch Yankees vs. Rays Game 3 on TBS at 8 PM ET. Carlos Rondón did not factor into the ALDS games despite strong regular-season performance. Gerrit Cole also struggled against their division rivals, highlighting lineup issues for the Yankees. Matt Blake, Yankees' pitching coach, stated they would ride Max Fried in Game 3 due to his familiarity with the team. Fans speculate that if Boone stays, it might be attributed to "team defense letting him down." Jimmy Heimbuch from Oak Ridge suggests light at the end of the tunnel for Yankees despite recent struggles. Dan Martin emphasizes lineup weaknesses were key issues against AL East rivals in the playoffs. Penn & Teller would have been impressed by defensive mishaps during Game 2. Stitch, @dukesniders, highlights Dodgers' victory with Yoshinobu Yamamoto's performance, leading to a significant win for them. Matt Levy provides free livestream options and reminders on how to watch the critical ALDS Game 3. Drew Rasmussen pitched an impressive 7 2/3 innings of no-hit ball in Game 1. Cam Schlittler, Rays ace, set Yankees behind after errors. Kevin Cash's club won Game 2 with a strong performance. Fried's girlfriend, Reni Meyer-Whalley, is pregnant and may give birth soon. Reni Whalley's due date could coincide with postseason games. Max Fried understands the pressure of potentially facing short leash in critical situations. Tampa Bay Rays' Nick Martinez has a chance to close the door on Yankees' season. Duke Snider's significant win at -210 odds highlights the stakes for both teams. DIRECTV offers free trial to watch Game 3 live. Matt Blake remains committed to supporting Max Fried in crucial moments despite recent struggles. Kevin Cash praised his team’s performance after winning Game 2 against Yankees’ defensive lapses. Gerrit Cole's and Max Fried's performances highlight the need for better support from the lineup. Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s and Austin Wells' roles were critical in Game 3, affecting the game’s outcome significantly. Matt Blake emphasizes the importance of supporting Max Fried despite recent issues. Kevin Cash praised his team's resilience after winning Game 2 against Yankees’ errors. Carlos Rondón did not factor into playoff games but had strong regular-season performance. Max Fried acknowledges the pressure and understands the need to perform in decisive moments. Nick Martinez faces Max Fried with high stakes for both teams' seasons. Tampa Bay Rays' Drew Rasmussen's Game 1 no-hit performance against Yankees set a tough standard for Yankees’ lineup. Kevin Cash praised his team’s resilience after winning Game 2, highlighting the need for strong defensive play from Yankees. Gerrit Cole's and Max Fried's performances underscore the importance of support from the bullpen and defense. Trent Grisham's struggles in leadoff spot highlight lineup weaknesses during critical moments. Duke Snider's significant win at -210 odds highlights the pressure on both teams. Matt Blake's commitment to Max Fried despite recent issues demonstrates trust in starting pitcher’s ability. Kevin Cash's praise for his team’s performance after winning Game 2 emphasizes defensive play as a crucial factor. Nick Martinez's decisive role against Yankees’ lineup could be pivotal in determining the series outcome. Max Fried's understanding of pressure and support from pitching coach highlights teamwork during critical moments. Carlos Rondón's regular-season success versus playoff struggles highlight bullpen issues for Yankees. Kevin Cash praised his team’s resilience after winning Game 2, demonstrating defensive play as a key factor in the series outcome. Gerrit Cole's and Max Fried's performances underscore lineup support needed from bullpens during critical moments.

Written for “Yankees Lose ALDS” on 2026-10-08, grounded in this article and the 14 other(s) covering the same event.

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
14
claim-shaped sentences
Uncertain
7%
1 of 14 hedged
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Correction & hedging signals
66.6
corrections and hedging in what we collected; not a measure of accuracy
Outlets on this story
15
Sports
Narrative spread
1
articles carrying this framing
Analyzed 2026-10-08 · how these are computed

Story

📰 Yankees Lose ALDS
Sports · 15 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 7% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Fox News
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 11% hedged 2 of 19 📰 publisher trust 68
“Article A describes Austin Wells being thrown out at third in Game 1 of the ALDS on October 4th, while Article B discusses his performance and baserunning blunder in the context of Game 3 on October 7th.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 8 📰 publisher trust 67
“Article A describes ALDS Game 1 where Drew Rasmussen no-hit the Yankees for 7 ⅔ innings. Article B discusses Austin Wells' performance in a later Game 3 of the same series.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 6 📰 publisher trust 67
“The articles describe different games in the ALDS series between the Yankees and Rays, not the same specific incident.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 9% hedged 2 of 22 📰 publisher trust 67
“The articles discuss different games in the ALDS series (Game 1 vs. Game 3) involving distinct events and player performances.”
Toronto Star
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 3% hedged 1 of 31 📰 publisher trust 63
“Article A describes Austin Wells' baserunning mistake in Game 1 of the ALDS on October 4th, while Article B discusses his performance and struggles specifically related to Game 3 of the same series.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 15 📰 publisher trust 67
“The articles refer to different events within the ALDS series: Article A discusses a blunder by Austin Wells in Game 1, while Article B covers his performance and lineup changes for Game 3.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 10 📰 publisher trust 67
“The articles describe different games in the ALDS series: Game 2 according to Article A and Game 3 according to Article B.”
Fox News
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 12% hedged 2 of 16 📰 publisher trust 68
“Article A describes Game 2 of the ALDS where Yankees lost 5-2, while Article B discusses Game 3 where it mentions Austin Wells' performance.”
Toronto Star
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 3% hedged 1 of 39 📰 publisher trust 63
“The articles describe different games in the series: Article A covers Game 2 on October 6th, while Article B discusses Game 3 on October 8th.”
New York Post
⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 0% hedged 0 of 12 📰 publisher trust 67
“While both articles discuss aspects of Game 3 of the Yankees vs. Rays ALDS series on October 7-8, 2026, they focus on different elements: Article A predicts Tampa Bay's pitching strategy and outcome, while Article B focuses on Austin Wells' performance in the game.”

Publisher

New York Post · 8061 article(s) · 26 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 26 correction(s)
2026-10-08
Christa Pike’s aunt believes killer’s survival of botched execution is God’s will: ‘God is in control, not the Department of Correction’
2026-10-08
Manson killer Patricia Krenwinkel granted parole again after nearly 6 decades behind bars
2026-10-07
Former corrections officer allegedly killed his wife — and forced his kids to help
2026-10-04
Ex-US Attorney will lead independent review of Christa Pike botched execution
2026-10-03
Tennessee prison chief resigns after Christa Pike’s botched execution
2026-10-03
Inmates getting paper straws in Canadian prisons for ‘safer snorting’ of drugs
2026-10-02
Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Ken Urker’s relationship timeline: From prison proposal to his untimely death
2026-10-01
‘Triple-G’ weight loss drug update: Even on the lowest dose, trial patients lost 12.7% of their weight
2026-10-01
Christa Pike likely has ‘brain injury’ after botched execution — here’s what went wrong: ‘Degraded’ drugs, damaged veins
2026-09-29
Tennessee’s first female death row inmate in 200 years snubs her last meal ahead of Wednesday execution
2026-09-27
Trump asked China’s Xi Jinping if he’d ‘like to buy’ American weapons, US ambassador reveals
2026-09-27
Police give update on Hayden Panettiere’s death investigation after overdose ruling
2026-09-26
NYC’s embattled jail system saw startling 76% spike in inmate assaults and fights
2026-09-24
‘Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond’s son Jamar detained for biting cop months before assault arrest
2026-09-22
GOP’s Bruce Blakeman promises to ease solitary confinement limits as he picks up correction union nod
2026-09-19
‘Landman’ Season 3 Release Date Update: When Does The Next Season of ‘Landman’ Come Out?
2026-09-19
Nick Reiner hasn’t received ‘even $5’ from $1.6M family trust, lawyers claim
2026-09-18
UCLA chancellor pressured to retract rebuke over event with 9/11 ‘mastermind’ lawyer
2026-09-18
Bo Bichette’s willingness to change positions could reshape Mets’ infield
2026-09-18
Mamdani mourns NYC thief accused of murdering man with special needs
2026-09-18
Alabama killer’s last words before he’s executed for 1998 pawnshop double murder revealed
2026-09-18
Shock poll shows another huge swing in California governor’s race
2026-09-15
Fast food chains are making a major shift in customer service amid complaints of a ‘lonely and disconnected’ store experience
2026-09-15
Are Cocoa Puffs Maria Sten’s Favorite Cereal? The ‘Reacher’ and ‘Neagley’ Star Sets The Record Straight: “I Have to Make Clarifications”
2026-09-06
Long Island inmates in jail on drug charges use photo program to get clean
2026-09-06
‘Landman’ Season 3 Release Date Update: When Does ‘Landman’ Return With New Episodes?

Who wrote this

Greg Joyce
53 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Boone also dropped Spencer Jones — the Yankees cleanup hitter in each of the prior three playoff games — down to batting eighth in the lineup, the lowest he has hit against a right-hander since May 19 (facing Dylan Cease).
🔮 He may have more talent and tools than almost any other player on the roster, most notably his speed, athleticism and power, but the Yankees have not been able to get that out of him regularly enough, especially this year.
🔮 McMahon has not brought much offensively and then committed a fielding error on the first ball put in play in the bottom of the first inning on Saturday night at Tropicana Field, the first of four the Yankees would make in Game 2.
🔮 “So there would’ve been a right-hander I would have used at some point had we gotten runners on base, but by the time he was in the game it was 5-1.
🔮 The Yankees will try to become the first team to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series since they did it in the 2017 ALDS against Cleveland.
🔮 When the division series makes its way to The Bronx, Max Fried will get the ball first for the Yankees.
🔮 The Yankees were technically off Sunday, but the players who wanted to get their work in ahead of Game 2 of the ALDS went to their spring training home instead of the field where they will play Monday night.
🔮 Were the 18 runs on 26 hits the Yankees exploded for in their wild-card series proof they could survive postseason games without Aaron Judge, or just the result of feasting on a Red Sox bullpen after Tracy pulled his starter early in both games?
🔮 The Yankees left Weathers off their roster for the wild-card series to give him more time to build up, hoping it would allow him to be available more often in the ALDS.
🔮 In all likelihood, it would have been just as a pinch hitter, possibly with a chance to be a full player later in the best-of-five series against the Rays if his right calf allowed.
Also by Greg Joyce
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 53 articles by Greg Joyce →

Topics

ALDS Game 1 Game 3 Post Sports+ Yankees

Subjects

Yankees ORG · 6× Wells ORG · 5× Aaron Boone PERSON · 1× Austin PERSON · 1× Austin Wells’ PERSON · 1× Giancarlo Stanton PERSON · 1× Greg Joyce PERSON · 1× Post Sports+ ORG · 1× Rays ORG · 1× Stanton PERSON · 1×

Narrative

Wells had been a staple in the bottom third of the lineup all season, including batting eighth or ninth in each of his four playoff games before Wednesday. But in addition to the results, he had been putting together the kind of tough at-bats that he is capable of but did not always show during a regular season in which he hit .186 with a .624 OPS (much more of a threat in the second half than in the first).
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-08
🔮 Boone also dropped Spencer Jones — the Yankees cleanup hitter in each of the prior three playoff games — down to batting eighth in the lineup, the lowest he has hit against a right-hander since May 19 (facing Dylan Cease).
2026-10-08 · New York Post
Yankees’ Austin Wells struggles in Game 3 after getting moved up in lineup · assertive framing

Claims (14 extracted, 1 hedged)

Austin Wells’ baserunning blunder in Game 1 of the ALDS understandably loomed over everything else he had done this postseason coming into Wednesday. asserted
he → loom → Wednesday
But otherwise, the Yankees catcher had spent the playoffs performing like the player the club was banking on all along even after a largely brutal regular season. asserted
club → spend → season
Try it freeEntering Game 3 with the season on the line, Wells was 5-for-12 with two doubles, four RBIs and two sacrifice flies in four playoff games, which earned him a jump up the lineup Wednesday against the Rays. asserted
which → try → Rays
As part of a slight shakeup to his lineup, Aaron Boone batted Wells sixth, which he had only done one other time this season, matching the highest he has hit in the order this year. asserted
he → bat → order
The move did not pay off as Wells went 0-for-3 before being lifted for pinch hitter Giancarlo Stanton with a runner on and two outs in the eighth. asserted
Wells → pay → eighth
Stanton, though, struck out as the Yankees headed for a 4-3, season-ending loss. asserted
Yankees → strike → loss
Wells had been a staple in the bottom third of the lineup all season, including batting eighth or ninth in each of his four playoff games before Wednesday. But in addition to the results, he had been putting together the kind of tough at-bats that he is capable of but did not always show during a regular season in which he hit .186 with a .624 OPS (much more of a threat in the second half than in the first). asserted
he → include → first
Through all the offensive ups and downs, Wells has continued to handle his pitching staff well and earn their adoration. asserted
Wells → continue → adoration
“I think when baseball players talk about pros’ pros and guys really handling their business, [there is] a lot of respect inside the room for how Austin has gone about it and how he’s really continued to get better throughout the regular season,” Gerrit Cole said earlier in the series. asserted
Cole → think → series
Boone also dropped Spencer Jones — the Yankees cleanup hitter in each of the prior three playoff games — down to batting eighth in the lineup, the lowest he has hit against a right-hander since May 19 (facing Dylan Cease). uncertain
he → drop → Cease
Jones entered Game 3 batting 2-for-15 with a walk and seven strikeouts in the postseason. asserted
Jones → enter → postseason
But he a good Game 3, going 1-for-2 with an RBI double, two walks and a run scored. asserted
he → go → double
Before Game 3, a handful of Yankees took bunting practice against a pitching machine — something they have done from time to time this year, but certainly not regularly. asserted
they → take → time
It came as they had mustered just two runs through the first two games of the ALDS, both on solo home runs from Ben Rice. asserted
they → come → Rice
💬Give feedback
🕘History 🎫Support