Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Aaron Judge is now the focal point of the Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees ALDS series. What began as an unexpected MVP race has transformed into a highly anticipated playoff matchup between two contrasting styles of teams.
The Kansas City Royals, led by Witt, will take on Judge and the top-seeded Yankees, offering fans plenty to watch both on and beneath the surface. The Royals, after clawing their way back to contention, secured a wild-card spot with a solid +91 run differential, the second-best in the American League. Meanwhile, the Yankees have reclaimed their dominant status in the AL, earning the No. 1 seed and embracing their “Evil Empire” identity once again.
Witt, who signed an 11-year, $288.8 million contract extension in February, has fully arrived as a superstar. After a stellar rookie season and one breakout year, he propelled himself into the MVP conversation by hitting 32 homers, stealing 31 bases, and delivering Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop. He’s the main reason Kansas City bounced back to the playoffs after losing 106 games last year. This marks the Royals’ first postseason appearance since their 2015 World Series win.
However, despite Witt’s incredible season, Judge is poised to take home his second AL MVP award in three years. He smashed 58 home runs, drove in 144 RBIs, and finished with a 1.159 OPS in a season nearly as historic as his 2022 campaign. The Yankees, with the league’s leading offense, hit 237 homers and topped the AL in runs and OPS. Though New York is always seen as a title threat, they enter the postseason with something to prove after only three playoff wins over the past three years.
Aaron Judge
In their head-to-head matchups this season, the Yankees won five of seven games against the Royals. Witt didn’t homer against New York, but he batted .367 with an .887 OPS, while Judge hit one home run with a .250 average and .708 OPS.
Witt helped Kansas City advance past the Orioles in a 2-0 wild-card sweep, contributing an RBI in both games. Despite being the underdog, the Royals have gained momentum, continuing the trend of wild-card teams upsetting higher seeds. The expanded playoff format has proven advantageous for wild cards in recent years, and the Royals are hoping to extend their Cinderella run.
Judge may be the MVP, but Witt and the Royals could claim the ultimate prize if they advance to the ALCS. “We’ve just got to take things one day at a time,” Witt said, eager for the challenge in New York.
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