CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 15: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees takes batting practice before game three of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on October 15, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Aaron Judge may be the all-time single-season leader in home runs in the American League … but he continues to choke in the playoffs against the Cleveland Guardians.
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is one of the best players in baseball. After leading the majors in WAR (10.6), breaking the single-season AL record for home runs (62), leading the majors in RBI (131), and leading the majors in OPS (1.111), he will almost certainly win the American League MVP Award in 2022.
But he continues to struggle in the postseason … and look like a little leaguer at the plate against the Cleveland Guardians in the playoffs.
Cleveland Guardians own New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in the postseason
Aaron Judge is hitting second in the lineup for the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians … and the Guardians continue to own him.
In the first inning of Game 3, Judge struck out against Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie. Through his first at-bat of the game, Judge is 0-for-9 in the series with eight strikeouts. That isn’t the first time that Judge has been awful against the Guardians in the postseason.
In his career now against Cleveland in the postseason, he is 2-for-38 with 28 strikeouts. You read that right: 2-for-38 with 28 strikeouts.
He has been better in the postseason against other teams but still not great by any stretch.
In 37 career postseason games entering Game 3 tonight, Judge is hitting .217/.327/.476 with 58 strikeouts. While he was chasing 62 home runs, he also struggled. In the 13 games of the regular season, he did hit two home runs but he only had a batting average of .216 and 15 strikeouts in 37 at-bats.
The Yankees and Guardians are tied at one game apiece in the ALDS but if Judge doesn’t start hitting for the Yankees, New York will be in serious trouble in the ALDS … and Judge might further damage his postseason reputation of not being able to handle the big spot.