The Yankees enter the Wild Card series against their bitter rival, the Red Sox, riding high on ending with an impressive record of 94-68 in the AL, only coming second to the Blue Jays on the tiebreaker. Yet Aaron Judge’s track record has become a debatable topic ahead of a breathtaking matchup against Garrett Crochet at Yankee Stadium in Game 1.

The Yankees have made it to the postseason 8 times in the last 9 seasons. However, their path begins with a tough left-hander in MLB. Garrett Crochet went 3-0 against Aaron Judge’s team this season with a 2.90 ERA and impressive 45 strikeouts. This number has established the star as a vital Cy Young contender with a 2.59 ERA that too in 32 games. However, for Aaron Judge, the challenge is personal. The Yankees star has just 3-15 with 11 strikeouts against Crochet; 2 of the hits have left the park.

The stakes are simple, and Ken Rosenthal laid them out in his piece today on The Athletic. “In Game 1 against the Boston Red Sox, Judge will face a pitcher, left-hander Garrett Crochet, against whom he is 3-for-15 with no walks and 11 strikeouts… Another postseason flop, and the noise around his October failures will only grow louder. A monster performance and World Series title, on the other hand, would end the ‘can’t hit in the postseason’ narrative surrounding Judge for good – just as they did for Bonds after his epic postseason in 2002”, Rosenthal said.

Aaron Judge also knows who he is going to face. When asked about coming up against Garrett Crochet, the Yankees star said with a grin, “He’s a tough matchup,” per SNY. It is a vital admission from a star who has been used to dominating pitchers; however, Crochet has consistently troubled Aaron Boone’s team. “It’s impressive what he’s done so far this year. Looking forward to facing him”, Aaron Judge later added.

With fans closely analyzing Judge’s upcoming showdown with Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox are under no illusions related to the task ahead, and leading that chorus of respect is the Red Sox’s manager. His current statement perfectly captures just how dangerous Judge remains heading into this series.

Alex Cora’s message about Aaron Judge before Red Sox-Yankees clash

Speaking to reporters ahead of Tuesday’s Wild Card game, the manager praised Judge for playing in an elite way despite losing Juan Soto’s protection in the lineup. “Not everybody thought that he was going to be able to do it because he didn’t have (Juan Soto) in the lineup and he was the best hitter in the league,” the Red Sox manager said. “Think about batting average… he hit like .330-whatever when guys are hitting .240. That’s special. He hits the ball out of the ballpark and he’s a good baserunner”, he added.

Alex Cora also highlighted the Yankees star’s defensive value and skill to silence critics. “Obviously, a little banged up defensively, but you know he’s really good out there. Just impressive,” Cora added. The Red Sox could have contained Judge better than other teams this season; however, Cora’s statement makes it clear: stopping Judge over a high-stakes and best-of-three series is a completely different challenge.

As the 2 teams prepare to renew their storied rivalry under the postseason lights, the attention inevitably falls on Aaron Judge. The star’s regular-season dominance is unforgettable; however, October will be the stage where legacies are truly cemented. With the Red Sox star waiting in Game 1 and their manager plotting carefully, Judge has a challenge and a scope in front of him. A defining series could silence years of postseason doubts and rewrite Judge’s October narrative for good. Buckle up, because this matchup has all the makings of a classic.