For the first time in 40 years, the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals locked horns in October. The rivalry was infamous during the 70s and 80s, and now this time, they had a modern twist. They had two of the brightest faces of the sport—Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr.—face each other. Both of whom are also AL MVP contenders! Fans were full of excitement for the ALDS opener on Saturday—but well, the game went very differently, but it’s a good day if you are a Yankee fan.

While popular belief is Aaron Judge is the one to carry the team to the championship win, the game showed he isn’t the sole star. Because the man who was a force during the regular season, keeping up with his record, choked in the postseason game. He was quiet at the plate, and so was Gerrit Cole, yet the team won. How? Well, another Aaron was the hero, Aaron Boone. His master plan of putting Verdugo in worked. Meanwhile, it seems like A-Rod finds sympathy for Judge and has advice for him.

Alex Rodriguez shares key advice for Aaron Judge for October woes

Aaron Judge has been the team’s force, and his 2024 season has been a no-brainer. But here is the catch—while Judge wins the regular season, Lady Luck leaves his side in October. This time again, it was a tough night for him going 0-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts. He racked up seven swings and misses, his third-highest this season—he was struggling. But it seems like facing issues in the postseason isn’t uncommon, as even Alex Rodriguez said he faced it. But he also overcame it—the advice, which will be handy for Judge.

Alex Rodriguez could relate to the New York Yankees captain’s struggle. Rod himself felt the pressures of October during his time. “I resonate with that cuz before I was doing exactly the same thing I would have a great strike zone during the season and then I felt some of the pressure,” said Alex Rodriguez. Then, reflecting on his own 2009 transformation, A-Rod mentioned key advice—trust in the team. He shared how he relied on Derek Jeter, Damon, and Hideki Matsui to pass the baton. And that’s the kind of mentality he believes can help Judge overcome these October woes.

Because believe it or not, unlike the regular season, Aaron Judge is to face the best pitchers. They know every little weakness, and the only thing on their mind is—attack, attack, attack! So in moments like this, having a steady hand and a trusty heart can go a long way. And Judge doesn’t have to worry, it seems, because even with him in a slumber state, his team seems to be doing great!

Alex Verdugo shines through against all odds

In the Bronx, it was one of those classic October nights—electric atmosphere, stakes sky-high, and over 48,000 fans holding their breath as the Yankees took on the Royals. But this wasn’t the story of Aaron Judge crushing homers or Gerrit Cole pitching a gem. No, the spotlight fell unexpectedly on a player with a storm cloud hanging over his head: Alex Verdugo. The boos were loud during pregame introductions, and it was clear—expectations were low. Verdugo’s season had been far from stellar, and when Aaron Boone announced him as a starter over fan-favorite Jasson Dominguez, it left many scratching their heads. But as it turns out, Boone’s decision would be the one that flipped the script for the Yankees.

With the game tied at 5-5 in the seventh inning, it was Verdugo’s moment to silence the doubters. Two outs, pressure mounting, and Verdugo delivered—an unexpected but clutch RBI single that gave the Yankees the lead. The boos quickly transformed into raucous cheers, the Bronx faithful rallying behind the unlikeliest of heroes. Aaron Judge might not have been the hero this time, but there was another Aaron who came up big—Aaron Boone. He gambled, he took risks, and with five lead changes, it was a rollercoaster ride that ultimately paid off. Austin Wells also played his part, tying the game earlier with a crucial two-out hit, but Verdugo summed it up best: “You can make up for a lot of things in the playoffs.” And that’s exactly what he did.

It wasn’t a flawless performance from the Yankees—shaky baserunning and defensive missteps kept fans on edge. But as the final out echoed across Yankee Stadium, there was only one thing that mattered: the Yankees were 1-0 in the series. The crowd erupted, the air filled with chants, and the energy was palpable. For now, the Bronx Bombers had done enough, and that Game 1 win was all that mattered. It was a night that reminded everyone that in postseason baseball, the unlikeliest heroes often shine the brightest.