Aaron Judge remains in a postseason slump despite taking a week off. In Game 1 of the World Series, he started 0-for-2, striking out swinging twice against Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Leading up to the World Series, Judge had a disappointing performance, hitting only 5-for-31 in the series against the Royals and Guardians, with his contributions mostly coming from late-game home runs in Games 2 and 3 of the AL Championship Series.
His counterpart, Shohei Ohtani, also faced struggles, going 0-for-2. Ohtani made solid contact with the first pitch from Gerrit Cole, hitting it to the warning track, only to have it caught by Judge. He followed up with a strikeout in his next at-bat, leaving the game scoreless as they entered the fourth inning.
Judge, who hit 58 home runs and contended for the Triple Crown during the regular season, is still seeking to make a significant impact in the playoffs. He expressed earlier this week that the journey involved ups and downs, but he sees this stage as the real excitement. “For years, as a kid, I’d watch the Yankees play and win the World Series. That excitement, the emotion, the city comes alive. It’s special. I look forward to doing that with this group,” Judge remarked.