About Last Night: Entering The Void: Red Sox 5, Yankees 3

About Last Night: Entering The Void: Red Sox 5, Yankees 3

By Tim Kabel

June 6, 2026

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The Yankees have officially entered an Aaron Judge-free zone for the foreseeable future. I'm not going to pull out a slide rule or an abacus and try to figure out exactly how long he will be gone, but it will be a while. Some people are clinging to the four-to-six-week time frame. However, that is four-to-six weeks where he can't do anything. He will then be reevaluated. Who knows what will be determined at that point. After that, Judge will have to build back up to playing baseball at the highest level. He will start with the proverbial baseball activities, flexibility drills, and so forth.  Eventually, he will work up to hitting, running, and then game activity. I'm sure he will then have to play some minor league rehab games, something everyone except Giancarlo Stanton has to do. The best approach for the Yankees and their fans to take is to operate under the belief that they will not see Aaron Judge playing in a game for the Yankees until the middle of August at the earliest. If anything happens to accelerate that timetable, it will be a boon, the good kind, without the E.

So far, the Yankees are 1-3 since Aaron Judge left the lineup. They are going to have to figure out ways to win without him. Obviously, they will need to rely heavily on pitching and defense. They will also need timely hitting up and down the lineup. They didn't really get any of those things last night.

In the fifth inning, Jazz Chisholm, Jr. was not able to field a ground ball by Wilyer Abreu. Wilson Contreras followed with a two-run home run. Ryan Weathers allowed seven hits and five runs in six innings. He has allowed five home runs in his last two games and seven home runs in his last four games. Jazz Chisholm, Anthony Volpe, Ryan McMahon, and Austin Wells were a combined 2 for 14.

There were some good signs. Ben Rice had two hits including his 18th home run. Spencer Jones in his return to the Major Leagues was 3-3 with an RBI. Paul Blackburn and Camilo Doval pitched a combined three innings of hitless, scoreless relief with four strikeouts and no walks.

The Yankees will have little room for error with Aaron Judge on the IL. It will be very difficult to remain competitive with the best player in the league not in the lineup. It's not impossible but, everything has to go right. Last night, everything did not go right.

As Little Orphan Annie sang, the sun will come out tomorrow. Hopefully, in addition to that, the Yankees will win the game.

A Few Tidbits: 

·       Former Yankee, Sonny Gray, who was dreadful with the Yankees, allowed three runs and eight hits in six and a third innings and won the game. He is now 7-1 and this was his fifth straight win.  Can this be the same guy who pitched for the Yankees in 2017 and 2018? That's baseball, Suzyn.

·       Jasson Dominguez began his minor league rehab last night in Scranton. Although he was 0-4 with a strikeout, he was in the lineup. He could possibly be back by next weekend.

·       I remember reading an article before the season began which stated that Ryan Weathers could be a candidate for the Cy Young Award. No, it wasn't written on April First.

Weathers is winless in his last five starts. He has two wins this season, one in April and one in May. His last win was on May 2nd against Baltimore. His two wins were against Kansas City and Baltimore. Once Max Fried returns, Weathers should be sent to the bullpen. He may turn out to be quite effective there. He certainly is not very effective as a starter. He is on a pace to win six games this year. Remember, the Yankees traded four prospects for him.

·       After the game, the Yankees optioned JC Escarra to the minor leagues. That leaves them with only Austin Wells as the catcher. Wells is batting .166 with 4 home runs and 7 RBI. It would seem that another move will be made before tonight's game. Heathcliff Johnson might be available.

·       On June 4th, 1925, Lou Gehrig hit his first home run of the season, after taking over as the starting first baseman from Wally Pipp on June 2nd.

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Tonight, the Yankees will play the second game of the three-game series against the Red Sox at 7:35 PM at Yankee Stadium. Will Warren, (7-1, 3.22 ERA) will face Ranger Suarez, (2-3, 3.38 ERA).