Red-hot Aaron Judge looking like himself after brutal Yankees start.
Entering Sunday, Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal had allowed five extra-base hits in six starts spanning 36 ²/₃ innings.
In two of his three at-bats against the young ace, Aaron Judge had two extra base-hits to the opposite field, a homer and a double, both hit at 104.8 mph or harder.
If ever there was an indication the slugging outfielder is finding his swing, this was it.
“It’s fun going back and forth. I got him the first time, then he comes back and strikes me out,” Judge said. “I was like, ‘All right, I’ll remember that.’ But it’s impressive, man. It’s fun competing against guys like that, especially a young ace of the team like that.
Especially when the results are positive.
It has been a rough start to the season for the 2022 MVP and franchise linchpin.
Judge, 32, was ejected for the first time in his career Saturday, has heard boos on occasion from the notoriously demanding Yankee Stadium faithful and is sporting an underwhelming .220/.350/.439 slash line along with 44 strikeouts in 132 at-bats.
Lately, though, Judge has begun to look more like himself.
Three of his seven homers have come in the last nine games and he has hit safely in six of those contests.
Even with that low batting average, Judge still has a .789 OPS, a credit to his 16.1 percent walk rate, which is actually above his career mark of 15.5.
