The New York Yankees are a completely different team with a healthy Aaron Judge on the field.
Due to Judge’s calf strain, it is uncertain whether he will play in the Wild Card Series starting Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox.
Obviously, the Yankees would love to have their three-time AL MVP in the lineup. And based on his recent comments, Judge is pushing to play.
With Judge in the lineup, the Yankees can emerge as a favorite in the AL to advance to the World Series. Without him? New York’s offense is questionable at best.
“Judge was hampered for many of his 66 games this season, playing with a rib fracture or coming back from it without a rehab assignment, and the Yankees still went 41-25 when he played,” ESPN’s David Schoenfield wrote.
“They went 52-43 without him. The difference? They recorded 5.1 runs per game and a .764 OPS with him in the lineup. Without him, those numbers sunk to 4.2 runs and a .685 OPS. The drop-off is significant,” Schoenfield added.
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It remains to be seen what Judge will be capable of if the Yankees’ training staff determines he is healthy enough to play.
It may be risky to have him play right field, but that would be the only way to get Judge, Ben Rice, and Luis Garcia Jr. in the same lineup.
Otherwise, manager Aaron Boone will almost certainly slot Judge in at the DH spot.
A player of Judge’s caliber can change a series with a single swing, but the Yankees will be smart with his rehab.
