Soto’s stability amid Judge’s postseason struggles

Soto provides the offensive stability the Yankees need for this postseason. I find his .908 OPS through 111 games much more dependable than the postseason performance of Aaron Judge, who carries a career .199 average and .740 OPS in 55 postseason games. Soto has 27 home runs, 68 RBIs, 78 walks, and 40 extra-base hits in 111 games. His .393 on-base percentage keeps the Yankees in games. He recorded 11 doubles, 2 triples, 110 hits, and 63 runs scored. He also reached 206 total bases after 481 plate appearances. He recently managed a return to the lineup after dealing with left forearm inflammation. He used treatment to ensure his elbow felt fine. He was acquired in December from San Diego and is currently hitting .275 with 27 home runs. He also holds an AL-leading .439 on-base percentage from the No. 2 spot. This follows a 2024 season where he hit .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs. He drew 129 walks that year and hit .263 with 43 home runs and 105 RBIs in 2025. He has hit 121 home runs in his career during the playoffs, making him a big-game hitter. You should notice how his consistency helps when the lineup lacks production elsewhere.

The intentional walk record and pitching rules

Judge holds the American League record for most intentional walks in a single season with 34. This figure surpasses the 33 intentional walks Ted Williams received in 1957. The White Sox issued these walks during a recent series. I think this frequency of intentional walks demonstrates the respect the league has for Judge. It also complicates the application of the "three-batter minimum" rule. This rule requires any starter or reliever to face three batters or pitch until the inning is over. An exception exists if the pitcher is injured or ill and the umpire crew chief approves the change. The rule was official for the 2020 season. The White Sox handed Judge the American League single-season record for intentional walks with 34, which surpasses the 33 intentional walks Ted Williams received in 1957 after the rule for intentional walks became an official statistic. I believe the injury exception remains the primary way teams bypass the three-batter minimum.

Lineup decisions and production gaps

Boone refuses to swap the batting order to protect Judge. He believes teams pitch to the dangerous hitter regardless of whether he bats third or second. Judge hit .396 with 23 home runs through his first 64 games this season. He also leads the league in hits and OPS. Judge has 51 home runs this season. He recorded 95 hits and 55 RBIs through 64 games. He is hitting .328 with 51 home runs this season. His production leads the league in hits and OPS. The captain also ties for second in home runs with Shohei Ohtani. His hard-hit rate is 46.4% compared to a career average of 57.6%. His strikeout rate is 29.8%. He leads the American League with six GIDP. He also struck out 31 times in 104 plate appearances. This follows an abdominal injury during Spring Training. Ben Rice, 27, has helped mitigate the absence of Judge by hitting .300 with 17 home runs and a 181 wRC+ in 57 games. He has also improved his walk rate to 12.6% this season. Does the team eventually need to adjust the lineup to help Judge find the barrel again?