Pressure mounts for MLB’s top American League stars as series shift

The New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians are in uncomfortable territory, having dropped Game 2 at home. 

While stars in the National League like Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Bryce Harper shine, the pressure is now on the American League’s top performers as they head to Kansas City and Detroit. 

Both teams need at least a split on the road to guarantee a return home and avoid a quick exit from the postseason.

Aaron Judge’s postseason demons

The Yankees’ centerfielder continues to struggle under the bright lights of October. 

After the first two games of this ALDS, he’s hitting just .208 in his 46 career postseason games, with a subpar .760 OPS. This pales compared to his regular-season dominance, where he boasts a .288 average and a 1.010 OPS.

Judge’s struggles aren’t new; in the regular season, he hit only .208 in games the Yankees lost, while he thrived with a .402 average and 1.415 OPS when they won. 

Every at-bat feels amplified in the playoffs, where pitching is at its peak. Facing the best of the best, his timing seems off, which is evident in his 1-for-7 performance so far in the ALDS. 

With the Yankees heavily reliant on his bat, Judge must find his rhythm to prevent another early elimination.

Bobby Witt Jr.’s silent bat

The Royals’ shortstop has been equally quiet at the plate, going hitless in his first ten ALDS at-bats — a stark contrast to his regular-season production. During that time, he hit .291 with 12 homers during Royals losses and .368 with 20 homers when they won.

Witt’s dynamic ability to hit for power and steal bases is crucial for Kansas City, but he hasn’t delivered either. 

His postseason inexperience might be showing, but if he can break free of this slump, the Royals have a legitimate shot at outscoring the Yankees’ lineup.

Jose Ramirez needs to step up

The Guardians’ third baseman has also struggled to find his form in this ALDS. 

Ramirez’s bat has been uncharacteristically quiet, with just one RBI in six at-bats. This was especially evident in Monday’s loss to the Detroit Tigers, where the Guardians managed only three hits.

Ramirez hit .237 in regular-season losses, and his lack of production is glaring in a series where Cleveland can’t afford a quiet performance from their star. 

The Guardians need Ramirez to ignite the offense as their primary power source if they hope to flip the momentum.

Clase’s rare misstep

Cleveland’s All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, who led the AL with 47 saves this season, looked mortal in Game 2. 

In a rare collapse, Clase allowed a game-winning three-run homer to Detroit’s Kerry Carpenter, surrendering four hits before being pulled.