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Judge Returns to Yankees' Lineup Tonight

 Aaron Judge is back. 

At long last the Yankees MVP is back in the lineup tonight against the Colorado Rockies, in what the  Yankees hope is the beginning of a major run by slugger Aaron Judge. 

Since landing on the IL on May 31 with a rib injury, the Yankees have bounced up and down all summer long, posting a record of 45-39 during the 84 games Judge was sidelined. New York clearly missed him. New York's run production dropped off considerably from 5.19 per game with him to 4.06 runs per game in Major League Baseball. 

There have been points this summer where it felt like the Yankees were the on the precipice of fading. Not only did they not have Judge, but Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger have missed time. Bellinger returned to the lineup a couple weeks ago. Stanton might be done for for the year. 

Winning five straight in mid-August which included a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles was really the Yankees saving grace. In addition, the team dominated the Red Sox in a four-game series from August 28-30, taking three of four, highlighted by a 16-1 win on August 30. 

Over the last seven games the Yankees as a team are hitting .269 with a .689 OPS. Cody Bellinger, Austin Wells, Spencer Jones, and Ben Rice have all been standouts in recent weeks. It's all to the good. 

Not to mention, barring anything unforeseen, the Yankees finally have a full rotation with Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Carlos Rodon, and Max Fried all pitching, and pitching well. 

But don't expect miracles. Judge is 34; he is human after all. While he has the ability to go yard at any point, he wants and the Yankees want him to get into a groove here. If Judge uses these next three weeks to get hot for the wild card round, the Yankees will be the scariest team in the American League come October.  

Then again it all depends on what happens in October when we get there. Judge is a lifetime .236 hitter in the postseason. Despite hitting .500 last year in seven playoff games, the Yankees still got bounced in the ALDS by Toronto. 

He's amazing when he's on, but the Yankees are not infallible. There are enough holes on this team that it could drop two of three at moments notice.  

This year they'll have to get through Tampa Bay and Boston mostly likely to get to the playoffs, and we know those two teams have had their success against the Yankees in the past.  

Buckle up folks. 

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