It is once again time to embark on another 72-hour craze over the legitimacy of the Yankees’ bats and how they are changing the sport.

It was the second lineup in a row that featured young slugger Ben Rice at the catcher spot, with Austin Wells increasingly pushed to the side amid a slump at the plate.

Boone and the Yankees can only hope that Wells’ two-homer night is a sign of things to come, especially entering this weekend’s four-game set with the Boston Red Sox. Their current five-game winning streak and an 8-2 stretch have the Yankees only four games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East.

Paul Goldschmidt’s Yankees tenure looks short-lived as Ben Rice emerges as the franchise’s next long-term first baseman.

With Austin Wells struggling at the plate and Ben Rice swinging an impact bat, the latter found himself serving as the Yankees’ starting catcher for the second consecutive night on Tuesday against

Aaron Boone is trying to balance Rice’s emergence with Austin Wells’ development, and it’s become one of the trickier lineup puzzles of the stretch run. Rice has muscled into the picture with his bat and improving glove. Boone praised the rookie’s progress on WFAN Tuesday morning.

This article was originally published on yanksgoyard.com as Austin Wells sure doesn't sound happy about Yankees' decision to prioritize Ben Rice.

Giancarlo Stanton and Ben Rice crank back-to-back homers to increase the Yankees' lead to 8 runs in the top of the 4th inning

Yankees first. Trent Grisham homers to right field. Ben Rice grounds out to second base, Brandon Lowe to Bob Seymour. Aaron Judge walks. Cody Bellinger flies out to center field to Jake Mangum.