The Yankees change their lineup for Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers

NEW YORK – New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is on the verge of retirement and is considering some lineup changes for Game 4 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. One was moving the struggling Aaron Judge from third to the leadoff position. He wondered if that would excite Judge. Ultimately, however, he decided against it, citing the success of Gleyber Torres at this point.

Instead, Boone made two more changes: Giancarlo Stanton, one of the team's top two hitters in October, was moved back from the starting spot to fifth in favor of Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Austin Wells was reinserted into the lineup after missing out started in the game was 3.

Stanton struggled against right-handed starters for most of the regular season and early in the postseason in fifth place. For the Dodgers, right-hander Ben Casparius opens a bullpen game. So in a way it is a return to normality.

But there is a larger strategic reason for the change. Flipping Stanton and Chisholm creates more left-right balance in the lineup – Stanton is right-handed and Chisholm bats left-handed – after Judge, who bats right-handed. Splitting up the right-handers avoids giving the Dodgers an advantage by having a right-handed reliever for multiple batters.

“I'm really just trying to be a little more balanced by having a bullpen day, and that's more in line with what I've been doing all year,” Boone said. “But today against a bullpen day, it’s not a good point for them to just get one or two at-bats.”

Still, relegating Stanton could come with costs. Stanton batted .298 with 6 home runs, 14 RBIs and a 1.110 OPS in the postseason. He hit a home run in Game 1 and struck out four times in the Series, making him one of the Yankees' few consistent hitters. Chisholm had three hits in the first two games of the World Series – and three steals in Game 1 – but in the playoffs he batted just .170 with an OPS of .475.

Wells was not in the lineup for Game 3 due to his issues in October. The rookie catcher came off the bench on Monday and went 0-2. He is 4 for 43 (.093) with 19 strikeouts in the postseason.

The Yankees are looking to become the first team in World Series history to overcome a 3-0 deficit.