Last December, after trading Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres, Bronx fans knew something big was coming. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge performed well, slashing 38 home runs in just 126 games. However, they will be set apart this time, at least for a few games. Why? Against the Minnesota Twins, #22 was seen struggling with a left forehand discomfort. Adding to the agony, the Yankees lost against the Los Angeles Dodgers by a score of 2-1.

The game could have gone either way, but the Dodgers had the last laugh. Shohei Ohtani and Co.’s victory cut the New York Yankees’ domination. They were cruising with an 8-win streak before meeting the Dodgers, handling the loss after a stellar performance. Speaking about his friend to the press, Aaron Judge said,” Big Time. You never like hearing that…we had that same thing going on with Dominguez last year, Andre, don’t like seeing that”.

“We all kind of were pretty relieved when we found out it was just an inflammation”. During the presser, Aaron also made it clear he preferred missing Soto for a game rather than the entire season. In conclusion, he said, “Let him rest, he will be back out there”. His statement showcased confidence that the injury was minor and that Soto would be back soon. On the other hand, as Soto was recovering, the Star of the game, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, was immaculate. He pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing no runs, two hits, and an impressive seven strikeouts. 

However, both teams struggled with offense. Until the Dodgers broke the non-scoring tie in the 11th inning, they didn’t get a runner. The Yankees also struggled with just five hits. Indeed, the Yankees had plenty of chances. The game could have gone either way in the bottom of the 10th inning. Jahmai Jones was kept as a runner for the second base from the Dodgers. But, with Trent Grisham failing to move Jones to the third base, Anthony Volpe and Jose Trevino had no option. Returning to the Dodgers, they took full advantage in their 11th inning, scoring a two-RBI double from the experienced Teoscar Hernandez.

Clearly, a team without Juan Soto struggled in the outfield department. Since 29 April 2024, the Yankees have scored the lowest number of runs against the Dodgers. Yankees star player Aaron Judge tried his best and scored an RBI single in the 11th inning. But, ultimately, the team fell short, losing a game they should have won. 

Aaron Judge & Juan Soto: The Dual Engine for the Yankees

Signing Juan Soto for $31 million, hoping he delivers for the Yankees, the lad has left no stones unturned. Especially, his partnership with Aaron Judge has been phenomenal. The current stats show the dominating performances of both the stars. While Judge leads MLB with an OPS+ of 201, Soto is thriving with a 199OPS+ ranking, the second-best in the baseball league. “Judge is the first player this season to reach 4 fWAR. Juan Soto right behind him with 3.8,” said Emily Nyman. 

Apart from being the king of OPS+ records, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto might be the first Yankees to hit 40 home runs. This special record has remained unbroken since the legendary duo of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. After Judge scored his 21st home run (his league-best) against the Giants on Sunday, he said,” I’ve got a lot of family in town, a lot of friends. We’ve got to do something special for them. I’m just trying to stay locked in and put on a show.”

Ultimately, with Soto on the bench and the Yankees taking on the Dodgers yet again, lots of work has to be done. Aaron has no option but to lead from the front and, this time, make sure they win against the Dodgers, a victory they could have easily clinched the night before.