What happened: Columnist Joel Sherman resurfaced the case that the Yankees' results track closely with Aaron Judge's availability, noting the club has won at a strong clip in regular-season games he starts and slips when he sits. With Judge now sidelined, Sherman frames the length of his absence as the season's central uncertainty.

Why it matters: The point lands harder now that the Yankees' fate is tied to Judge's return timeline. As the team's offensive anchor, any extended absence pressures a lineup already leaning on depth pieces to hold its place in the standings.

What to watch: Watch for an updated timeline on Judge's return and how the Yankees fill his spot in the order while he is out.