The sound of the bat reverberated throughout Fenway Park in October last year. It briefly gave the Yankees a sense of invincibility as Aaron Judge loomed over the plate and made a powerful swing that sent the ball soaring into right field. This momentarily hushed the Red Sox supporters and ignited excitement among fans who envisioned a satisfying victory over Boston after a long wait. But as the 2025 weekend series looms, that sense of invincibility has dimmed. Judge, the Yankees’ cornerstone, is now battling a nagging arm issue that threatens to reshape Aaron Boone’s strategy for the upcoming weekend series.

Judge’s absence or even a partially limited presence ripples across every layer of the Yankees’ game plan. With Fenway’s sprawling right field and the daunting Green Monster in left, positioning isn’t just a formality; it’s a chess match. Boone must decide whether to risk Judge in right, where every misfire can turn a fly ball into extra bases, or shift him to left, where the shorter distance demands finesse but reduces his throwing load. The decision could define New York’s shot at payback.

Buster Olney summed it up perfectly in a recent tweet. “With Aaron Judge protecting his arm and not throwing as well, one of the interesting questions going into the weekend series in Fenway is whether he’ll play the very expansive right field, or the much more confined left field, in front of the Green Monster.”

The numbers underline the challenge.

In his latest stint in right field, Judge’s throws were clocked at 62 mph, far below his season average of 90 mph, giving opponents an opening to test him aggressively. Cody Bellinger could slide into right, letting Judge DH for a couple of games, while Giancarlo Stanton handles left. But Stanton himself is managing an elbow issue, and Fenway’s quirky dimensions leave no margin for error.

Boone faces a delicate balancing act. The Yankees’ “real shot” at Red Sox payback now hinges on strategy as much as raw talent. Making changes and defensive lineup adjustments, along with innings management, will be crucial for New York to convert their potential into actual results. The time is running out, the rivalry is red-hot, and every swing, throw, and decision counts.

This weekend, the Yankees won’t just be battling the Red Sox; they’ll be battling reality itself. And as much as fans hope for revenge, the truth is clear: Even in the Bronx, sometimes the game is about making the smartest plays, not just the hardest hits.

Yankees navigate Fenway without full-strength Judge

Aaron Judge’s season hit a sudden bump when he landed on the injured list with a right flexor strain, an injury that came after a hard slide at home plate during a late-July game against the Blue Jays. The strain hasn’t damaged his UCL, but it has limited his arm strength and throwing velocity, forcing the Yankees to rethink his role in the outfield. Given Fenway Park’s dimensions in the right field and the Green Monster in left, it can magnify the problem. Every misstep could swing momentum toward Boston. Boone now faces the delicate challenge of keeping Judge in the lineup without exposing him to further risk.

Judge’s past performance with the Red Sox highlights the importance of the situation.

Last season, he achieved a batting average of .327 with 5 home runs and 15 RBIs in 13 games, including a 470-foot blast at Fenway that left fans in awe. His impact changed the way Boston pitchers engaged batters, and his outfield defense frequently mitigated base threats. Losing even part of that arm strength doesn’t just affect throws; it erodes the Yankees’ psychological edge and opens opportunities for Red Sox runners to pressure the infield and change the pace of the game.

The ripple effect of Judge’s injury reaches across the entire roster. Boone must now juggle defensive assignments, Stanton might shift to right, Bellinger to center, and Judge could DH some games. Each adjustment impacts batting order, infield alignments, and even pitcher strategy. Navigating through Fenway leaves margin for mistakes, as a single error could escalate rapidly. The Yankees are facing a test of their depth and adaptability, unlike anything they have faced before this season. How Boone manages these obstacles will decide if the Bronx Bombers’ hopes of revenge come true or remain a distant dream.