Aaron Judge may be the face of the Yankees, but his postseason struggles have raised eyebrows. While the Bronx has been buzzing with MVP chants all season, Judge’s October performance has fallen short of headline material. After battling through a slump earlier in the season and enduring a lengthy homer-less streak from August to September, Judge is still looking to find his rhythm in the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians. Even though he showcased defensive skill in Game 1, making two sharp catches and contributing with a sacrifice fly, fans are still waiting for that breakout moment.
But not everyone is worried. Teammate Juan Soto stepped up to defend Judge, insisting that the team’s success isn’t on one man’s shoulders. “I don’t think he has any pressure. It’s a team effort at the end of the day. We can’t lean on only him,” Soto pointed out, highlighting that baseball is a collective effort—a sentiment echoed by Yankees legend Derek Jeter, who said the team’s fate shouldn’t rest on Judge alone.
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton has been the postseason powerhouse. In Game 1, he launched a monster 439-foot homer in the seventh inning, giving the Yankees a 5-2 lead. With that blast, Stanton tied Babe Ruth for the most postseason homers by a Yankee, a stat not lost on manager Aaron Boone, who praised, “That ball was absolutely nailed on a cold night.” Stanton, along with Soto, has been carrying the team offensively, keeping the Yankees in contention as Judge finds his groove.
For Judge, the pressure to deliver is undeniable, but if history is any indicator, he’s capable of turning things around at any moment. After snapping a 16-game homer drought earlier this season, he went on a five-game home-run spree—proving he’s got plenty of magic left. The question now is whether Judge can shake off his slump and show the Yankees faithful that he’s ready to lead them all the way.
