Rice is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.
The Mets have started southpaws in both games of the series and Rice has been out of the lineup both times, although he logged two plate appearances off the bench Tuesday. DJ LeMahieu is at first base Wednesday while Oswaldo Cabrera handles the hot corner.
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Yankees' Ben Rice: On bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Rice is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Mets.
It will be the right-handed hitting J.D. Davis handling first base as the Mets send southpaw Jose Quintana to the hill. Rice will yield the leadoff spot to Jahmai Jones.
Rice went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in a loss to the Orioles on Sunday.
Rice was hitless through four at-bats but came through when it mattered most, swatting a three-run homer in the ninth inning off Baltimore closer Craig Kimbrel to give New York a 5-3 lead. That result didn't hold, as the Orioles plated three runs in the bottom of the frame to pull out the victory, but Rice's heroics still stand out. While the rookie is batting just .228 on the campaign, he's shown a flair for the big moment, batting .280 with runners in scoring position and already adding a three-homer game to his big-league resume.
Rice went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Tuesday in a loss to the Rays.
Rice brought New York to within a run with his two-run shot in the seventh frame, but the team was unable to score again. The rookie first baseman continues to thrive in the majors, as he's slashing .267/.348/.567 with five home runs, three doubles, nine runs and 14 RBI over just 19 contests covering 69 plate appearances. All five of Rice's homers and 10 of his RBI have come over his past five games.
Rice went 3-for-5 with three home runs and seven RBI in a 14-4 win over the Red Sox on Saturday.
Rice opened the scoring with a leadoff home run in the first inning and added three-run blasts in the fifth and seventh. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Rice is the first rookie in Yankees history with a three-homer game. The 25-year-old is hitting .294 with four home runs and 12 RBI through his first 60 major-league plate appearances while earning opportunities to hit atop one of the league's best lineups.
