Aaron Judge not taking advantage of Yankees table-setters

The Yankees found themselves in familiar territory in the first inning of Game 3 of the World Series on Monday.

For the third consecutive game, the Yankees had a runner on first and one out with Aaron Judge coming to the plate. Second baseman Gleyber Torres led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. After Juan Soto lined out to left, Judge came to the plate. And, for the third consecutive game, Judge struck out.

Judge’s woes with runners on in the first is not just a World Series phenomenon. As Chris Kirschner of The Athletic noted on X, Judge is now 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts during the postseason when either Torres or Soto reach base in the first. 

Likewise, Judge’s playoff struggles extend beyond this year. He had posted a lifetime .199/.304/.436 batting line in 248 postseason plate appearances entering Monday, hitting 15 homers and striking out 85 times. He became the sixth player in World Series history to post back-to-back three-strikeout games. Judge has two hits with runners in scoring position in the postseason going back to 2018. He has faltered on the biggest stage.

The Yankees need Judge to snap out of his malaise to come back in the series. He had been a fearsome run producer during the regular season, leading MLB in homers (58) and RBI (144). Maybe his pregame meeting with Red Sox postseason legend David Ortiz before Game 3 can awaken his bat. Judge needs something to break out of his ongoing slump.

The top of the Yankees lineup has done its part, getting on base for Judge in the first inning. He has not been able to take advantage of those opportunities.