Yankees Adapt Game Strategy Without Aaron Judge
The Yankees showcased a different way to secure a win in the absence of Aaron Judge. Despite missing their star player, they managed to beat the Guardians 2-1 on Thursday, relying heavily on their speed on the basepaths to score both runs through successful steals.
This season, the Yankees have emphasized their running game, and it really came to the forefront during this game. With Judge sidelined for what could be two months due to a stress fracture in his right rib, the team is not reshaping into a traditional small-ball team, but they seem more prepared to create scoring opportunities without him.
Coach Aaron Boone remarked, “Our running game was crucial today. We adapted, and it made a difference in a tightly contested game. Although we’re missing a key player, we still have to find ways to leverage our skills. The essentials remain—throwing, catching, and scoring—can be achieved in various forms.”
Boone added, “Every night brings new challenges with our roster. That’s just how the game works.” Indeed, the Yankees have seen an uptick in their stealing game, achieving three successful steals on Thursday alone, bringing their total to 10 in the last four games. That’s impressive, especially considering three of those outings occurred without Judge.
This season, they’ve tallied up 61 stolen bases, marking the highest total for the first 62 games of a season in the last 25 years, notably surpassing their own record of 68 from 2001.
In a pivotal moment during the fourth inning, Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger executed a double steal, with Goldschmidt scoring thanks to a sacrifice fly from Jazz Chisholm Jr. Later, in the seventh, Chisholm’s efforts—after a double and a wild pitch—set him up to score on Ryan McMahon’s single, highlighting the urgency of their running game.
“It’s significant for us,” Chisholm said about their base running success, noting his shared team lead in stolen bases with Jose Caballero. “We have versatile players who can make things happen. I’ve been focusing on my base running, and it feels like it’s really paying off.”
In other news, Jason Dominguez, currently nursing an AC joint sprain, is set to resume rehabilitation on Friday, with plans to return to play as soon as Sunday. On the flip side, Giancarlo Stanton will likely miss the upcoming road trip while he continues working on recovering from a calf strain. Boone commented on Stanton’s progress, indicating they’ve had productive conversations about his recovery.
Lastly, it’s worth noting Trent Grisham’s impressive form lately, as he achieved multiple hits, maintaining a .362 batting average and .955 OPS over his last 13 games. It seems the Yankees are finding their rhythm, adapting across the board as circumstances shift.
