3 Yankees who need to pick up slack with Aaron Judge out

By Marci Rubin | Jun 9, 2023

May 20, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (right) reacts with designated hitter Aaron Judge (99) after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the tenth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 27, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (48) at bat against the San Diego Padres at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

Yankees who need to pick up slack: Anthony Rizzo

Anthony Rizzo is another player whose powerful bat can help the Yankees win games with Judge on the shelf. In 2023, Rizzo is slashing .278/.350/.458 with 11 HR and 32 RBI. He continues to be valuable defensively at first base, as well. Rizzo is currently struggling at the plate, though, which is a problem for the Yankees who need their big hitters to step up.

Rizzo missed a few games following a neck injury but avoided an IL stint. Since returning, Rizzo has not looked good at the plate. In the month of June, he’s slashing 0.43/.120/.043 over six games. Rizzo is hitless in his last four games. This slump has caused his average to dip from .304 at the end of May to .278. Rizzo battled through a 12-pitch at-bat against Mike Clevinger on Thursday night. Although the at-bat ended in a pop-up, the battle was an encouraging sign.

Hopefully, Rizzo’s struggles at the plate since the neck injury don’t mean there’s a lingering issue for the first baseman. If he can find himself at the plate soon, Rizzo can be a leading force in the Yankees’ pursuit of scoring runs without Judge in the lineup. The Yankees need Rizzo to turn things around and return to form.

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