A lot of things went wrong for New York Yankees over the first two games of this World Series, but if you’re looking for a starting spot, it has to be the offense. Sure, Aaron Boone’s bull run was… less than ideal at least, but that wouldn’t be nearly as big an issue if New York’s high price range had been able to provide any cushion. Instead, the Yankees scored five points in Games 1 and 2, going 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position and leaving 17 men on base. Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton continue to do their thing, but everyone else is gone — especially Aaron Judge, who can’t stop hitting right now.

It is clear that something has to change. And they face a must-win Game 3 and a 0-2 series deficit against them Los Angeles Dodgersthe time to make that change is now. But Boone apparently disagrees: If the Yankees bounce back and win title No. 28, they will do it without changing anything.

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Boone’s lineup for Game 3 is more or less exactly the same as Games 1 and 2, with the only difference being Jose Trevino switching to catcher with Austin Wells struggling (at least at the plate). Judge remains third, between Soto and Stanton. But the most glaring choice is at the bottom of the range.

Alex Verdugo gets the start in left field for the Yankees for the 12th time in 12 games in October. And how did he repay that steadfast faith? A .184/.262/.237 slash line with just two extra-base hits, along with some uneven defense in the outer field. He swings at just about anything and looks like he hasn’t made hard contact in weeks; it’s as if the Yankees choose to give up an out — and a chance to put a runner on Gleyber Torres, Soto and Judge — simply because they’re too afraid to swing for the fences.

If Verdugo was the Yankees’ only viable option, that would be one thing. But former top prospect Jasson Dominguez was included on the team’s World Series roster, likely because the team believed he could help them at some point in this series. The time would seem to be now, facing a right-handed pitcher in LA’s Walker Buehler and in desperate need of an offensive spark. Dominguez struggled at the plate in September, but he is away He’s more likely to put a charge in one than Verdugo is right now, and all calls for veteran stability go out the window when you consider how shaky Verdugo has made the little things in these playoffs. Now is the time to throw caution to the wind, but Boone insists on jeopardizing his team’s season by playing it safe.