The New York Yankees are struggling offensively since the loss of star outfielder Aaron Judge to a fractured rib at the end of May, a downturn that threatens to undermine what had been a promising season. Despite efforts to bolster the lineup— including the acquisitions of Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos via trades, as well as the promotion of top prospect George Lombard Jr.—the team’s offensive production remains stagnant.

Since Judge’s injury on May 31, the Yankees have posted a 28-28 record, with their offense ranking near the bottom of Major League Baseball in key metrics. During this stretch, New York ranks 27th in on-base plus slugging (OPS) at .669, 30th in batting average at .219, and 30th in on-base percentage at .283. The team’s scoring average has dropped sharply to 3.9 runs per game compared to 5.2 prior to Judge’s absence, and since the All-Star break, it has fallen further to just 3.1 runs over 18 games. The Yankees have been limited to two or fewer runs in 11 of those games.

Particularly concerning has been the team’s inability to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Since Judge’s departure, the Yankees are batting a low .199 in those situations, with an on-base percentage of .274, slugging percentage of .355, and an OPS of .629, all ranking near the bottom of the league. Manager Aaron Boone emphasized the need to improve in these clutch moments following a 3-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, during which the Yankees went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The offensive woes have been compounded by injuries to other key players. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton has been sidelined since late April due to calf strains, while outfielder Cody Bellinger was placed on the injured list in late July with a hamstring strain. Performance from regular starters has also been disappointing. Center fielder Trent Grisham, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., and catcher Austin Wells have failed to provide consistent production.

First baseman Ben Rice, who earned his first All-Star selection this year, has endured a significant slump, going 2-for-29 over his last nine games with no home runs and an OPS of .374. Similarly, Paul Goldschmidt, a strong contributor in the first half, has struggled recently, hitting 11-for-57 with one home run and 16 strikeouts over his past 18 games.

There is some cause for cautious optimism. Judge was cleared to begin light physical activity, including running and upper-body workouts, after undergoing a scan on Wednesday. However, his rib injury has not fully healed, and he will require another MRI before resuming hitting and throwing drills. Stanton and Bellinger are also progressing in their rehabilitation but are not expected to return to full strength imminently.

With no further roster additions possible following the trade deadline, the Yankees are reliant on the recovery of their injured players and the offensive contributions of their recent acquisitions to reverse the slide. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays lead the American League East by 4½ games, with the Boston Red Sox also surging and tied with the Yankees in losses. Though the Yankees’ pitching staff has remained competitive—helped by the returns of Gerrit Cole and Max Fried—the inability to generate timely offense continues to hinder their standing.

At this stage, missing the playoffs remains a distant prospect for New York; however, sustained offensive struggles raise concerns about their capacity to contend in the tightly contested division as the season progresses.