Jazz Chisholm Jr. makes spotty Yankees return as playoff questions loom

Jazz Chisholm Jr.returned to what looks like a Yankees infield competition with a hit, a walk and a defensive mistake. The second baseman was activated from the injured list for the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader and got the nod at second base after Anthony Volpe — who has played well at the spot in his absence — started the first game.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.

Chisholm’s most memorable moment, though, was failing to cover first base on a safety squeeze in the 6-1 loss in The Bronx that helped the Rays clinch the division. With one out and runners on the corners in the seventh inning and Taylor Walls at the plate, manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees were aware that a bunt would be coming “more often than not.” And sure enough, Walls pushed a bunt toward first base, and Luis García Jr.charged, as he was supposed to, Boone said. Chisholm started to run over but stopped, believing García would halt his charge and return to the base.

Chisholm instead hovered by second base. “He’s just gotta go [to first base] every time, and he knows that,” Boone said of Chisholm, who acknowledged the mistake. “Next time, I’ll just keep going through,” said Chisholm, who was sidelined for two weeks after spraining his right thumb Sept.8 and has returned to a team sorting out its infield with five games to go before the postseason. Asked before the doubleheader if Volpe would continue to get time at second with Chisholm back, Boone said, “We’ll see.” Chisholm went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk, while Volpe went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the 2-0 doubleheader opener.

Entering play, Volpe had hit .286 with a .753 OPS in 10 games with Chisholm on the IL. The Yankees also have to figure out third base, as Ryan McMahon is a mess on both sides of the ball. José Caballero got the start there in the opener against Marti...