Michael Wacha of the Kansas City Royals may be the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge’s kryptonite, as Judge has struggled against him in the past. Judge has just one hit in 18 career at-bats against Wacha, with that hit being a single. Despite this, the Yankees remain confident in Judge’s abilities, with manager Aaron Boone expressing that he would take Judge against any pitcher on any day.
Judge is a key player for the Yankees as they push for their first World Series appearance since 2009. He is likely to win the American League MVP award this year after leading the league in several offensive categories. Meanwhile, Wacha had a solid season with the Royals, going 13-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 29 starts.
Wacha’s success against Judge may be attributed to luck, as Judge has hit the ball hard against him but has little to show for it. Wacha’s changeup is a strong weapon in his arsenal, with opponents struggling to hit it effectively. Boone recognized Wacha as a tough opponent, acknowledging that the Yankees have their work cut out for them.
Despite Judge’s past struggles against Wacha, the Yankees believe he will perform well in the upcoming matchup. Judge ended his regular season with a five-strikeout game but had been on a hot streak prior to that. Hitting coach James Rowson has confidence that Judge will focus on the present moment and perform at his best during the game. With both Judge and Wacha set to face off in the American League Division Series, the stage is set for an exciting matchup between the two players.
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