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The New York Yankees started the 2026 season hot, winning their first eight of 10 games, but since last Tuesday, the bats have gone ice cold.
The Yankees lost a series to the Athletics and were then swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in a series over the weekend.
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New York Yankees Aaron Judge heads to the dugout after striking out during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., on April 11, 2026. (Jason Behnken/AP)
Aaron Judge called attention to the team’s offensive struggles after a 5-4 loss on Sunday.
“We’ve got to simplify some things at the plate,” Judge told reporters, via MLB.com. “We’re trying to hit every pitch we see up there and get ourselves into some bad counts and bad situations. If we as a group simplify our approach a little bit, chase the pitch we’re looking for and pass the baton, I think we’ll be in a better place.”
Judge has also been sluggish at the plate, coming off three American League MVP awards in the past four seasons and some time with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge hits a two-run home run during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., on April 12, 2026. (Jason Behnken/AP)
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Through 15 games, Judge is hitting just .218 with four home runs, nine RBI and one double. He was 2-for-10 against the Rays, despite a two-run homer Sunday.
It was the Rays’ first three-game sweep of the Yankees since 2021.
“We didn’t get a lot of traffic when we needed it in this series,” Judge added. “We had a hit for most of the game, and a couple of those games. I think if guys take their turns when they need to and focus on a pitch they can drive, we’ll be in a better place.”
New York is now 8-7 this season and in a three-way tie for the American League East division lead.
New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge strikes out during the fifth inning against the Athletics in New York on April 8, 2026. (Heather Khalifa/AP)
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The Yankees return home Monday for a seven-game homestand. The team welcomes the Los Angeles Angels for four games and then turns their attention to the Kansas City Royals.
