Aaron Boone shook up his lineup with the New York Yankees' season on the line, and even after it ended in a sweep, the manager is standing by the biggest change he made.

Facing elimination in Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night, Boone moved Ben Rice out of the leadoff spot and slotted Trent Grisham at the top of the order. Rice, who had led off in Games 1 and 2, batted second behind him.

The Yankees fell 4-3 at Yankee Stadium, and the season ended with Rice standing on deck. Grisham struck out against Rays closer Bryan Baker for the final out.

Asked afterward whether he regretted the decision, Boone said he did not. “I was pretty convicted on trying to find a way to be able to get Benny maybe a chance to come up with runners on or be in a position to do that more often tonight,” he said.

Aaron Boone says he doesn't regret hitting Trent Grisham leadoff instead of Ben Rice tonight:

"I was pretty convicted on trying to find a way to be able to get Benny maybe a chance to come up with runners on or be in a position to do that more often tonight." pic.twitter.com/41Gl2AOIeP

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) October 8, 2026

New York had scored just two runs over the first two games of the series, and both came on Rice solo homers in Game 2. With Rice hitting second, Boone hoped to give his hottest bat a few more chances with traffic on the bases.

Boone acknowledged that the move did not pay off the way he wanted, calling it “a decision I made to try and create a little bit of traffic” while admitting it “didn't work.”

Rice still made an impact. He tied the game with an RBI single in the third inning, giving the Yankees their first run of the night. The Rays eventually pulled ahead, and a spectator interference call on an Anthony Volpe drive in the sixth left New York a run short.

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The lineup changes went beyond the top of the order. Volpe and Jose Caballero replaced Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ryan McMahon, while Spencer Jones dropped from cleanup to eighth.

None of it was enough to save the season. The Yankees managed just five runs across three games, a stunning outcome for a team that won 93 games during the regular season.

The larger question of how to fix a lineup that went quiet in October will follow Boone into the offseason.