Yankees’ bottom of the order delivers key Opening Day spark

SAN FRANCISCO — A year ago, the Yankees led the majors in runs scored mostly thanks to the top half of the lineup. 

And with much of that offense back — you know the guys, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice, for starters— the Yankees are expected to produce at a high level again in 2026. 

But if there’s one question about the lineup, it’s at the bottom. 

On Opening Day, though, the bottom third of the lineup helped spark a 7-0 win over the Giants at Oracle Park. 

Against Giants ace Logan Webb in the top of the second, José Caballero came up with two on and one out and opened the scoring with a double to left. 

Ryan McMahon, a mess at the plate for most of his time last year after coming over in a trade from Colorado at the deadline and again this spring after retooling his swing, followed with a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-0. 

An Austin Wells single from the No. 9 spot kept the rally going, which led to Grisham’s triple to right-center that gave the Yankees a 5-0 lead. 

José Caballero hits an RBI double during the second inning of the Yankees’ 7-0 Opening Day win over the Giants on March 25, 2026 at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

So while the Yankees have plenty of confidence in that heart of the offense that will have to deliver in order for the Yankees to contend for a title, an improvement from McMahon and Wells might make them unstoppable. 

Caballero is the starting shortstop in part due to Anthony Volpe being out after offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, while McMahon struggled at the plate after coming from Colorado at last year’s trade deadline and again this spring after making a swing adjustment in the offseason. 

As for Wells, the lefty-swinging catcher was the leadoff hitter on Opening Day a year ago against Milwaukee and he went deep in each of the team’s first two games. 

Asked if Wells might stay at the bottom of the lineup this season, Aaron Boone said, “We’ll see.” 

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They’ll face left-hander Robbie Ray in the second game of the season Friday, which Boone noted could be the only southpaw they see on the road trip. 

And for as much as Judge, who went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts and was the only Yankee without a base hit, and the rest of the middle of the lineup should be able to carry the offense, the Yankees will hope for more production from McMahon, who had a .641 OPS with the Yankees after putting up a .717 with the Rockies prior to the trade, when he played half his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Colorado. 

Before Wednesday’s game, Boone noted McMahon swung the bat better toward the end of spring training, even if he didn’t have much to show for it. 

If the rest of the offense performs as expected, the Yankees can probably live with McMahon’s superb glove at third base and not much else. But they still believe he’s better than the third-worst offensive third baseman in the majors, which is where his numbers with the Yankees would put him over the course of a full season. 

Boone said it was unlikely some of the lefties would start Friday against Ray. The Yankees made sure this offseason to add right-handed balance, leaving Paul Goldschmidt, Randal Grichuk and Amed Rosario available for a righty-heavy lineup. 

Third baseman Ryan McMahon hits a two-run RBI single during the second inning of the Yankees’ road win over the Giants. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

And while Boone and the Yankees typically look to space out their lefties as much as possible, Chisholm, McMahon and Wells were in the bottom four Wednesday.