Aaron Judge belongs in the Yankees’ postseason lineup if he’s healthy enough to play, regardless of how well the team performed without him. Evan Roberts and Tiki Barber push back on the idea that the Yankees should simply stick with the players who carried them during Judge’s absence, pointing to the impact their captain still brings and the central question of whether his return makes them better.
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham are nearing potential postseason returns, but neither should automatically reclaim a starting job. Evan and Tiki see Stanton as a dangerous right-handed power bat off the bench, while Spencer Jones has done enough to keep his place in the lineup.
