There Will Be Judge
Aaron Judge (NYY): 4-6, 2B, 3 HR, 4 R, 8 RBI.
The score from today’s Yankees-Brewers game will make baseball fans do a double-take at first glance.
Both teams combined to score 29 runs, collect 29 hits, and accumulate six errors. One would think that this game was a bit of a “back-and-forth” slugfest between the Yankees and Brewers, especially with each team having 16 and 13 hits, respectively. Unfortunately, it was a blowout in favor of the Bronx Bombers, as they won 20-9, highlighted by three home runs on the first three pitches of the first inning from former Yankee, now-Brewer Nestor Cortes.
Plenty of Yankees hitters had big days on Saturday, as seven New York hitters went yard against Milwaukee. However, Aaron Judge, the reigning MVP, stood out the most on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx. The 32-year-old outfielder displayed his candidacy for a repeat MVP award in 2025, collecting four hits, three home runs, and eight RBI in the Yankees’ 11-run win.
Expectations are great for Judge in 2025, especially after he easily won the AL MVP in 2024 with a 58-home run and 144-RBI season. However, this season, he is expected to have stiffer competition from Bobby Witt Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Gunnar Henderson. Henderson and Witt offer more defensive and baserunning upside, and Guerrero is looking to have a big season in his last year before free agency.
Judge has to put a bad 2024 postseason behind him. His .184 average and .752 OPS in the playoffs still linger heavily in the minds of baseball fans and writers, especially with the Yankees losing in five games to the Dodgers in the World Series.
It’s only two games, but Judge has three home runs and five hits in 10 plate appearances this season.
That’s exactly what Yankees fans wanted to see from Judge right out of the gate in 2025.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Saturday.
Jordan Westburg (BAL): 4-5, 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI.
Westburg collected four hits and went yard twice in the Orioles’ 9-5 win over the Blue Jays, giving Baltimore the second win in the series. The 26-year-old is off to a stellar start with three home runs, a .462 average, and 1.654 OPS in 14 plate appearances this season. Westburg was a hitter that PLV liked last season, so his strong early performance could be a sign of good things in 2025.
Bryson Stott (PHI): 2-3, 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB.
The Phillies tagged the Nationals’ pitching staff for 11 runs, and Stott accounted for scoring three of those runs and driving in two. He also hit his first home run of the season and is currently sporting a 1.301 OPS in nine plate appearances. It was a bit of a down year for Stott in 2024, as he declined from 2023 in batting average (.280 to .245), home runs (15 to 11), and OPS (.748 to .671). Saturday’s strong performance could signify a bounce-back in 2025 for Stott.
Cody Bellinger (NYY): 3-5, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI.
Moving from Wrigley Field to Yankee Stadium has done Bellinger wonders so far. Not only did he have three hits, a home run, and four RBI on Saturday, but he is currently hitting .571 with a 1.500 OPS in 10 plate appearances. With Giancarlo Stanton on the IL, the Yankees need new hitters like Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt to carry the top of the order. Thankfully for the Yankees, Bellinger is doing just that through two games.
Adolis García (TEX): 3-3, 2 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.
After an All-Star campaign in 2023 (39 HR, 107 RBI, .836 OPS), García nosedived in 2024. He hit 25 home runs but only collected 85 RBI, and his OPS dropped to .684. His campaign was so disappointing that Garcia was the focus of some trade rumors this offseason. The Rangers kept their slugging outfielder for 2025, and so far, the move has paid off. He is hitting .333 with a 1.389 OPS in 12 plate appearances, and he hit his first home run of the year on Saturday against the Red Sox.
Amed Rosario (WSN): 3-5, HR, 3 R, RBI.
After playing for five teams in the past two seasons, Rosario hopes to get consistent playing time in Washington. That will happen if he can build on his hot start to the season. Rosario collected three hits in his Washington debut, scored three runs, and hit his first home run. At 29 years old, he doesn’t quite “fit” the young core in D.C.. However, at the very least, he can be a platoon bat playing multiple positions in the infield. Based on Saturday’s performance, though, he may have more left in the tank offensively.
Kyle Tucker (CHC): 3-4, 2B, HR, R, 2 RBI.
Tucker got off to a slow start in the Tokyo Series (one hit in nine plate appearances), but he has turned it up in this series against the Diamondbacks. He collected three hits and his first home run of the year against Arizona in the Cubs’ 4-3 win. Tucker still hasn’t played a game yet in Wrigley Field. Thus, fantasy managers who roster Tucker and are worried about his outlook on the North Side need to cool their jets.
Kristian Campbell (BOS): 2-3, 2B, HR, R, RBI, BB.
The focus in Boston this offseason was on free-agent acquisition Alex Bregman. However, Campbell has gotten off to a hot start in his debut season with the Red Sox. In 11 plate appearances, he is hitting .556 with a 1.636 OPS. He also hit his first major league home run on Saturday against the Rangers. The barrel (zero percent) and sweet-spot numbers (zero LA Sweet Spot%) aren’t impressive. Thus, some regression may come soon for Campbell. That said, he’s showing that he’s not overwhelmed by MLB pitching thus far.
Matt McLain (CIN): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.
After missing all of 2024, McLain is not wasting time this season. His average is low at .222, but his OPS is more-than-serviceable at .889. He also hit his first home run of the year on Saturday in the Reds’ 3-2 win over the Giants. With Jonathan India now in Kansas City, McLain has all the opportunities to bounce back and match what he did two seasons ago (16 HR, 14 SB, and .864 OPS).
Maikel Garcia (KCR): 2-4, HR, R, RBI.
Garcia didn’t start on Opening Day, but he got the nod at third base for Kansas City today and was key in their 4-3 win over the rival Guardians. He collected two hits and launched his first home run, a 103.8 mph scorcher off the left field foul pole. The 25-year-old Venezuelan infielder had a disappointing 2024. His batting average went from .272 in 2023 to .231 last season, and his OPS went from .681 to .613, respectively. A solid Garcia at the bottom of the order could help the Royals return to the postseason in 2025.
