Aaron Judge returned to the New York Yankees lineup on Tuesday, September 8, as the team opened a three-game Rockies vs Yankees series at 7:05 p.m. ET. Judge had been sidelined for more than three months with a rib injury, and his return gives New York a needed boost as it tries to strengthen its postseason position.
The Yankees entered the series at 81-62, holding a slim edge in the American League Wild Card race. That makes Judge’s return especially important, because every remaining game carries added weight and the Yankees are looking for any edge they can get down the stretch.
Why Judge's return matters
Before Tuesday, the Yankees had won six of their last 10 games, so they were already in better form than they had been earlier in the year. Adding Judge back into the lineup only raises the ceiling. He remains the Yankees captain and one of the most important run-producing bats in the lineup, which is why his absence was felt so heavily for more than three months.
The Rockies came in at 55-88 and had gone 3-7 over their last 10 games. They were also in the last-place spot in the matchup context, which helps explain why the pitching matchup was described as favoring New York.
What to know for Tuesday night
The first game of the series was set for Tuesday, September 8 at 7:05 p.m. ET. Fans looking to watch Rockies vs. Yankees had several options listed, including YES, Rockies.TV, MLB.TV, fuboTV, DIRECTV, and Unlimited.
New York will still need to keep performing over the final stretch, but getting Judge back is a clear step in the right direction. For a team chasing a playoff spot with a narrow margin for error, that is the kind of development that can change the tone of a series quickly.
