What happened: The homer came in the first plate appearance after Tolle was removed. New York is facing the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series with Aaron Judge sidelined by a right calf strain.

Why it matters: Rice earned All-Star honors in July, leaving him as a power source with Judge unavailable. Stanton returned to the roster after not playing since April 24 with leg injuries, adding another veteran bat for the series.

What to watch: Rice's follow-up at-bats will show if the power holds through the opener. New York's run production without Judge remains the series storyline.