Another elimination game, another lineup without Isiah Kiner-Falefa. 

With their season on the line again, the Yankees rolled out the same lineup for Game 5 of the ALDS on Monday as they did in Game 4 against the Guardians, with Oswaldo Cabrera at shortstop, Aaron Hicks in left field and Kiner-Falefa on the bench. 

Monday’s game was postponed due to rain, so Aaron Boone could wake up on Tuesday, change his mind and reinsert Kiner-Falefa into the lineup. But as of Monday, the manager had decided to sit the shortstop who he thought was pressing when he made three defensive miscues in the Game 3 loss in Cleveland on Saturday. 

It was a sentiment Kiner-Falefa disagreed with on Sunday in Cleveland, but Boone didn’t waver. 

Cabrera handled himself well at short Sunday and after the game Boone said the rookie would “probably” be there again for the decisive final game of the series 

Boone texted Kiner-Falefa early on Sunday to inform he wouldn’t be playing and the two had a conversation later in the day about the decision, and Boone said he was confident Kiner-Falefa would rebound. 

“I love his makeup and his toughness,’’ Boone said. “He’s a great teammate. He’s ready to go and ready for an opportunity.” 

But this is now not just a one-game situation for Kiner-Falefa, who started 131 games at short in the regular season and the first three games of the ALDS before Boone opted to pull the plug and turn to the inexperienced Cabrera, who started just three games in the majors at short prior to Sunday. 

Marwin Gonzalez started the second-most games at short for the Yankees this year — 16 — and the team opted not to use Oswald Peraza there much after his September call-up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. 

Peraza played well for the most part in his 11 starts at the spot, but the Yankees went with the switch-hitting veteran Gonzalez on the ALDS roster, citing Gonzalez’s defensive versatility. 

When questioned about that decision Sunday, Boone said Kiner-Falefa was the team’s starting shortstop and Peraza had never been in the discussion in that role for the postseason. 

Now, after just three playoff games, it appears Kiner-Falefa is no longer the starting shortstop. 

Cabrera started 172 games at short in the minors, spending more time there than at any position other than second base (233 games). He also started 133 games at third base. 

And for the two most important games of the season, the Yankees have gone with the 23-year-old at short after using him left field earlier in the series. 

Cabrera is just 2-for-15 with eight strikeouts in the series, but the two hits were a double and a go-ahead homer and the team has been impressed with his athleticism and acumen at every position he’s been asked to play. 

Shortstop has been an issue with the Yankees since they tried to make Gleyber Torres an option there, a plan that was abandoned by Boone late last season. 

Kiner-Falefa was expected to man the spot until either Peraza or top prospect Anthony Volpe was ready to take over and the Yankees defended his shortcomings throughout the regular season. 

But his miscues were too costly to ignore in Game 3 and the Yankees made the drastic move Sunday and stuck with it Monday, even after another lackluster game from Hicks in left field and at the plate.