"The Dodgers have their hands full" - MLB analyst discusses the danger of Aaron Judge, Juan Soto & Giancarlo Stanton in the Yankees lineup
The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face each other in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Both teams possess dangerous lineups with plenty of star power.
The Dodgers have several notable players, including Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. On the other hand, the Yankees' lineup is also one that could pose a tough challenge to Los Angeles.
During an appearance on Foul Territory TV on Monday, ESPN analyst Tim Kurkjian discussed New York’s lineup and the danger it could cause to the Dodgers in the upcoming series.
To illustrate how good the Yankees' lineup is, Kurkjian tells a story about Aaron Judge’s stellar two-run homer against Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase in Game 3 of their ALCS. The Guardians' pitcher threw a 99.2 mph cutter that Judge sent 356 feet away on a line drive to right field, resulting in a home run.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told Kurkjian that Judge was the only player in MLB who could hit that pitch out for a homer. But when Kurkjian told that to Aaron Boone, the Yankees manager thought of two other batters who could do that, and both were on his team:
“So I relay this to Aaron Boone and he goes, 'Well there’s someone else who could do that.' That’s the guy hitting after Judge, who is Stanton,” Tim Kurkjian said. “Then Boone pauses and he goes and the guy hitting before Judge could do that. It’s Soto.
“So there are three guys in their lineup that are just so devastatingly good right now that if they swing it this way in the World Series, the Dodgers will obviously have their hands full.”
Yankees' top hitters Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Giancarlo Stanton provided the power in ALCS
The top half of the New York Yankees' lineup includes Aaron Judge, who is preceded by Juan Soto and followed by Giancarlo Stanton. All three players showed off their power in the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge had just three hits in 18 at-bats, but two were homers, and he drove in six RBIs. Meanwhile, Juan Soto recorded seven hits in 19 at-bats, with three home runs, while scoring five runs and tallying six RBIs for the Yankees.
Giancarlo Stanton had four hits, all homers, in 18 at-bats, scoring five runs and driving in seven RBIs for the Yankees.