3 things the Yankees must do to win Game 5

2. Aaron Judge needs to dominate

By the numbers, Aaron Judge has enjoyed an above-average postseason. He certainly doesn’t deserve to be suffering any criticism from frustrated Yankees fans. With that being said, he really doesn’t have a signature moment against the Astros yet.

Game 5 would be a perfect time for him to really flex his muscles at the plate. The situation the Yankees find themselves in will require Judge to be more than just a cog in the team’s offensive machine. Instead, he will need to be the offensive hero that can take the pressure off the rest of his talented teammates.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he needs to play like Reggie Jackson in Game 5. It does mean that he need to show some power. Even if Judge doesn’t hit the ball into the seats, he needs to find a way to crank out multiple extra base hits. It would be even better if one or more of those hits could occur with runners on base in front of him.

The time for Judge to lay back and patiently wait for his postseason moment has come and gone. If he waits any longer then he’ll be forced to endure another painful playoff exit at the hands of the Astros. He can’t just be good in Game 5, he needs to be great. His postseason Yankee legacy needs to begin in earnest on Friday night.