Yankees Prepare for Rays Clash as Judge Injury Decision Looms

Yankees advance but Judge remains a doubt

The New York Yankees swept past Boston in a two game wild card series, scoring 18 runs in the process. They did this without their captain, Aaron Judge, who is recovering from a strained calf muscle. Judge also missed more than half the season with a broken rib.

Without Judge, the Yankees averaged 4.22 runs per game, which ranked 26th in Major League Baseball. That stat raised fears about their scoring ability, but the team responded with 26 hits and four home runs against Boston. Judge's status for the upcoming series against the Tampa Bay Rays is still undecided. Some in the organisation want him to play, while others prefer to wait so he does not make the injury worse.

The challenge of the Tampa Bay Rays

The top seeded Rays won 98 games this season compared to the Yankees' 93 wins. Tampa Bay also won the regular season series between the two teams. They led the American League in batting average, on base percentage, stolen bases, and strikeout rate.

The Rays have a strong lineup with players like Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero. Right hander Drew Rasmussen will start Game 1 for the Rays. Rasmussen held hitters to a very low opponent on base and slugging rate over 172 innings this season.

Left handed pitcher Max Fried, who threw six innings to help eliminate Boston, warned that the Rays are a tough opponent. Fried said, "They do all the little things that you need to do to be able to win tight baseball games." Judge also praised the Rays, saying, "They're going to put the ball in play."