It all comes down to this for the New York Yankees and Aaron Judge. They either win Game 3 of the ALDS or they are packing their bags and heading home. Meanwhile, some players are making a plea to the clubhouse.

In a recent interview, Yankees catcher Austin Wells talked about what the team needs to do in the game against the Toronto Blue Jays. “We’ve got to win today… The only focus is… to get [Shane] Bieber off the mound as quickly as we can… put up a lot of runs so that Carlos [Rodón] can go out there and do what he does best.” 

The Yankees’ offense has struggled to find consistent power in the 2025 postseason, outside of Aaron Judge. Judge is hitting an impressive .444 with a .524 OBP, showing patience and contact skills at the plate. Meanwhile, the rest of the lineup has produced just a .244 team batting average with three home runs across five games.

Even Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton have yet to fully lift the ball consistently, leaving the team searching for extra-base production.

But on the other side is Shane Bieber, representing a formidable challenge, having struck out 27 Yankees in five career appearances while maintaining a 4.11 ERA. His experience and ability to induce contact could suppress New York’s already inconsistent power hitters in Game 3.

Still, the Yankees can draw confidence from history, having overcome 0-2 deficits in best-of-five series, including 2001 and 2017. Those comebacks show that resilience can triumph over numbers, suggesting the Bronx crowd could energize the team from the very first pitch.

The Yankees’ clubhouse is filled with stars like Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton, ready to deliver.

Timely hits, particularly extra-base knocks, could shift momentum and ignite a crucial postseason rally. Fans’ energy and home-field support will fuel the team’s belief, keeping every at-bat charged with purpose.

Tonight, the Bronx expects magic, and only flawless swings and roaring support can deliver it.

MLB insider Joel Sherman has an urgent message to Aaron Judge

Joel Sherman isn’t mincing words this time. The New York Yankees are teetering on the brink, and one columnist thinks the team’s fate is hanging by a very familiar bat. Sherman knows that the postseason isn’t a gentle suggestion; it’s a spotlight that exposes every weakness, and in this high-stakes moment, even a superstar like Aaron Judge can’t hide behind regular-season glory. The message?

The margin for error just evaporated.

Joel Sherman’s message to Aaron Judge is urgent: The Yankees’ survival in this ALDS depends heavily on him. Sherman stresses Judge must “carry this team and have a couple of big moments” at the plate to spark the offense.

Toronto has outscored New York 23-8 in the first two games, showing the uphill challenge the Yankees face without timely power hitting. Fans can feel the tension with every pitch, knowing Judge’s ability to deliver home runs might decide whether the team advances or goes home.

Aaron Judge now carries more than expectations; he shoulders the Yankees’ entire postseason fate alone. Joel Sherman’s blunt message reminds fans that even legends can’t rewrite outcomes without timely, powerful hitting. Every pitch becomes a verdict, proving baseball’s cruel humor waits for no superstar or team.