The New York Yankees are looking to snap out of a slow stretch amid a successful 2026 MLB season. The Yankees enter Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers hoping to end a five-game losing streak that began with a four-game series sweep at the hands of the rival Boston Red Sox.
Despite this recent stretch, New York holds a 48-36 record and sits only 1.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, who currently lead the American League East and boast the top record in the American League. Much of New York’s struggles have coincided with the absence of three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, who has now missed 26 straight games with a stress fracture in one of his right ribs.
© Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
Judge last appeared on May 31 in a win against the Athletics, and in the 25 games he missed prior to Tuesday’s matchup with the Tigers, the Yankees have gone 12-13 in his absence.
On Tuesday, Talkin' Yanks shared another disappointing update regarding Judge's absence on X. As of Tuesday’s missed game against the Tigers, Aaron Judge will now officially no longer have enough plate appearances to qualify for MLB's statistical leaderboards at this point in the season.
Unless he returns soon and accumulates enough additional plate appearances, the Yankees captain will remain ineligible to appear among the league leaders in traditional offensive categories. A seven-time All-Star, Judge is targeting a return sometime in late July or mid-August.
Before landing on the injured list, Judge was putting together another productive offensive season for the Yankees. In 59 games this season, he is slashing .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.
Although falling short of the plate appearance requirement removes him from the official leaderboard, Judge is still having another strong season, and the Yankees will be eager to get him back on the field when he is ready. New York will look to remain afloat in the following weeks as they continue to closely monitor Judge’s recovery.
