- Aaron Judge returned Tuesday after a 99‑day absence from a broken rib, starting in right field and batting third (he skipped a minor‑league rehab assignment).
- The Yankees went 45‑39 without him and saw a clear offensive dip — team average fell from .243 to .227 and OPS from .770 to .681 while he was sidelined.
- New York is 81‑62 (four games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East but holding the top AL wild‑card spot); Judge, a three‑time AL MVP who hit .331 with 53 homers last year, could be decisive down the stretch.
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