Entering Sunday, Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal had allowed five extra-base hits in six starts spanning 36 ²/₃ innings.
In two of his three at-bats against the young ace, Aaron Judge had two extra base-hits to the opposite field, a homer and a double, both hit at 104.8 mph or harder.
If ever there was an indication the slugging outfielder is finding his swing, this was it.
“It’s fun going back and forth. I got him the first time, then he comes back and strikes me out,” Judge said. “I was like, ‘All right, I’ll remember that.’ But it’s impressive, man. It’s fun competing against guys like that, especially a young ace of the team like that.”
Especially when the results are positive.
It has been a rough start to the season for the 2022 MVP and franchise linchpin.
Judge, 32, was ejected for the first time in his career Saturday, has heard boos on occasion from the notoriously demanding Yankee Stadium faithful and is sporting an underwhelming .220/.350/.439 slash line along with 44 strikeouts in 132 at-bats.
Lately, though, Judge has begun to look more like himself.
Three of his seven homers have come in the last nine games and he has hit safely in six of those contests.
Even with that low batting average, Judge still has a .789 OPS, a credit to his 16.1 percent walk rate, which is actually above his career mark of 15.5.
He has posted an average exit velocity of 95.2, similar to his lifetime 95.6 number.
His hard-hit percentage, though, is down, at 56.2 percent, compared to 61.8 percent in 2022 and 64.2 percent last year.
“I thought he swung the bat great [on Sunday. Saturday], after a couple hits, [in] the at-bat he struck out, I thought he got a lot of really good swings off where he looked in control of the at-bat and just happened to miss a pitch,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I do feel like he’s looking better to me, but he’s still working to get all the way there.”
Newcomer Juan Soto has mostly carried the Yankees offensively as the team leader in batting average (.316), home runs (eight), hits (43), RBIs (28) and on-base percentage (.421).
If the Yankees ever get the two of them going together, it would be a sight to see.
Soto downplayed Judge’s struggles, attributing it to a slow start that all great players go through on occasion.
“It was just a tough month for him,” Soto said. “I feel like he’s doing his stuff right and he’s going to be great. I’m not even worried about Judge. I’ve always been happy hitting in front of him and I know what kind of hitter he is.”
Judge, though, wasn’t ready to take a bow for one strong game, or even improved at-bats.
Consistency is what he’s after.
“Not until I’m hitting 1.000, then I’ll say we’re getting there,” he said. “I think I told you guys that plenty. I’m just excited to get on base, especially starting in the first getting a run for Nestor [Cortes], so he can go in there and cruise, feel comfortable with a lead. … So it’s a good start and just keep it rolling after this off day.”
