The New York Yankees, navigating through a grueling MLB schedule, opted to give their superstar slugger Aaron Judge a much-needed day off on Monday. Despite his absence, the team clinched a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals, leveraging small-ball tactics and robust pitching performances to secure the win. The inclusion of Juan Soto back into the lineup proved pivotal, as his presence helped mitigate the impact of Judge’s rest day.
Strategic Rest and Continued Success for the Yankees
The focus now shifts to Tuesday’s game, where both MVP candidates, Judge and Soto, are expected to be back in action. Judge is returning from one of the most dominant months in recent baseball history, boasting a .305/.436/.703 batting line with 24 home runs, 59 RBIs, and a staggering 215 wRC+. His performance has solidified his status as the Yankees’ top player this season, even with Soto’s impressive contributions.
Soto, who is also having an exceptional season, is batting .318/.425/.599 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs. Known for his prowess at the plate, Soto is on track to surpass his personal best in home runs during a critical contract year. Together, Judge and Soto make a formidable duo, each pushing the other in the MVP race.
The rest of the Yankees’ lineup is also showing signs of balance and depth. Gleyber Torres is finding his form, Alex Verdugo is having a consistent season in left field, and DJ LeMahieu is gradually finding his rhythm. Additionally, catcher Jose Trevino is performing well above his career averages, hitting .264.
Despite a slight slump from lead-off man Anthony Volpe, who is currently batting .238 this month with a matching on-base percentage, his overall performance has been strong. Volpe’s role as the primary lead-off hitter remains crucial, especially following a successful May where he hit .293.
- Yankees activate exciting outfield prospect off of IL, remains in Triple-A
- Yankees are ‘actively’ targeting help at 3B at the trade deadline
- The Yankees need to make a big push for this perfect infield trade target
As the Yankees prepare to face the Royals again on Tuesday, Marcus Strowman is set to pitch against Brady Singer, who boasts a 2.76 ERA this season. Singer will need to be at his best to contend with a potent Yankees lineup that has shown it can challenge any pitcher in the league.