Yankees face Rays in ALDS with Judge sidelined, offense firing — SkimNews
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- Yankees scored 18 runs on 26 hits with four home runs and four stolen bases in sweeping the Red Sox in the wild-card round, showcasing offensive depth despite playing without Aaron Judge
- Aaron Judge remains questionable for the ALDS due to a strained calf muscle, with sources indicating disagreement within the organization about whether he should return or wait
- Tampa Bay Rays posted the second-best ERA in the American League and led the AL in batting average, on-base percentage, stolen bases, and strikeout rate, presenting a multidimensional challenge to New York’s pitching-heavy approach
- Drew Rasmussen will start Game 1 for the Rays, having held hitters to a .199/.245/.298 line over 172 innings — an opponent OPS lower than Yankees ace Cam Schlittler’s
- New York’s starting rotation has Schittler on regular rest for Games 2 and 5, with Max Fried available on extra rest for Game 3 or 4 after throwing six strong innings to close out Boston
- Yankees’ offense averaged 4.22 runs per game without Judge this season — 26th in MLB — compared to nearly a full run more when he is in the lineup
Why it matters: The Yankees must decide whether activating Aaron Judge risks worsening his calf strain for minimal short-term gain, given their strong performance without him; Tampa Bay’s balanced offense and elite pitching make this series a test of New York’s ability to win clean, high-pressure games even if their MVP returns at less than full strength.
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