Yankees Struggle as Royals Split ALDS First Two Games

The New York Yankees are facing challenges in the postseason, with key players Aaron Judge and Carlos Rodón underperforming. Judge has been struggling with a high strikeout rate in playoff games, drawing criticism similar to that faced by former Houston Astro Martín Maldonado. In Game 2, Rodón, in his first playoff start for the Yankees, allowed four runs, resulting in a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals. Meanwhile, in Game 1, Gerrit Cole had a shaky performance, allowing four runs over five-plus innings, although the Yankees secured a 6-5 victory. The Royals capitalized on Cole’s struggles, making strong contact and forcing defensive errors from the Yankees. Despite Cole’s dominant end to the regular season, his postseason debut was marred by hard-hitting Royals, leading to an early exit.