Judge Returns as Yankees’ Pennant Hopes Hang in Balance | Sports News

Aaron Judge is back—after 99 days on the IL, the Yankees captain’s activated and ready to face the Rockies. With just three weeks left in the season and the team four games behind Tampa Bay, his return couldn’t be more timely. But can he instantly revive a struggling offense that’s been hemorrhaging first-inning production and relying on pitching to win close games? Without Judge at the top of the order, the lineup’s been inconsistent, forcing others like Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger to carry the load—and they’re not hitting well. Boone hopes Judge brings balance, especially against righties, but this is a high-stakes gamble: no rehab games, no warm-up, just immediate impact—or else the pennant race slips away. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4fc958a8fe4391b5