The first-place Yankees face the Orioles on June 20, 2025, but their bats have gone cold. Can Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt break out?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a strange time in the Bronx. The Yankees sit comfortably atop the AL East with a 43-31 record, yet a sense of unease is creeping into the stadium. The very heart of the lineup has gone cold, and not even the AL Triple Crown leader, Aaron Judge, is immune, hearing boos from the home crowd this week. Tonight's series opener against the last-place Orioles feels less like a routine game and more like a referendum on whether this team's biggest bats can wake up.
You want to be the guy (to) kind of get the hit, get it going... But that’s where the patience comes in and that’s where just you can’t obsess on the result.
The numbers are jarring for a first-place club. Aaron Judge, despite his gaudy season totals (.366 AVG, 26 HR), is hitting a paltry .125 over his last seven games. He's not alone in his struggles. Cody Bellinger is batting just .152 in his last eight contests, and veteran Paul Goldschmidt is mired in a .164 slump over his last 17 games. The cold spell has forced manager Aaron Boone to get creative, bumping rookie Jasson Domínguez to the leadoff spot and dropping Goldy to sixth. Boone is preaching patience, but for a fanbase used to offensive fireworks, patience is in short supply.
If there's a perfect antidote for an ailing offense, it's having your ace on the hill. The Yankees will send the Cy Young-contending Max Fried (9-2, 1.89 ERA) to the mound tonight against Baltimore's Tomoyuki Sugano (5-4, 3.38 ERA). Fried has been the model of consistency and dominance, a stopper in every sense of the word. His presence provides a crucial safety net, giving the slumbering bats a chance to find their rhythm against a struggling Orioles team. A strong outing from Fried could be exactly what the team needs to lower the temperature and get a much-needed win.
This recent offensive drought inevitably raises questions about the long-term plan. While the Yankees hope the solution is already in the clubhouse, the front office is surely monitoring the situation with the trade deadline on the horizon. The farm system, while not as deep as last year, still possesses quality arms and intriguing prospects who could become key trade chips. Players like Spencer Jones, despite recent setbacks, still hold value. If the slumps for key veterans linger, the pressure will mount on Brian Cashman to use these assets to acquire an impact bat for the postseason push.
Tonight's game is more than just another Friday night in June. It's a test. Can Max Fried continue his dominance and carry the team? Can Aaron Judge and the M-V-P-caliber bats finally break free? The answers will not only determine the outcome against the Orioles but could shape the Yankees' strategy as they look ahead to the trade deadline and the fight for a championship. The division lead is nice, but this team won't go far without its stars hitting like stars.
