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Yankees Slugger Aaron Judge Battles Playoff Power Drought
7 Oct
Summary
- Aaron Judge's OPS 250 points lower in playoffs than regular season
- Pitchers targeting Judge with hard stuff inside, soft stuff away
- Judge not taking advantage of middle-middle pitches in playoffs
As the 2025 MLB playoffs reach a critical juncture, the New York Yankees are facing elimination, and their star slugger Aaron Judge is at the center of their struggles. Over the course of his career, Judge has consistently underperformed in the postseason compared to his stellar regular-season numbers, with his OPS dropping by 250 points.
This year's playoffs have been no different, as Judge has posted a 1.024 OPS through his first five games, but with just one extra-base hit. Pitchers have been targeting him with a game plan of throwing hard stuff on the inside part of the plate, followed by softer offerings on the corners. This strategy has proven effective, as Judge has struggled to cover the entire strike zone against quality pitching.
Notably, Judge has failed to take advantage of mistakes over the middle of the plate, a weakness that has been particularly glaring in the playoffs. During the regular season, he had a 1.630 OPS and 15 home runs on middle-middle pitches, but in the playoffs, he has yet to record a hit on such offerings, instead fouling them off or taking them for strikes.
As the Yankees try to battle back against the Toronto Blue Jays, they will need Judge to rediscover his power stroke if they hope to extend their season. The team's offense relies heavily on the two-time American League MVP, and his ability to punish mistakes will be crucial in determining whether the Yankees can overcome their current deficit.
