Cody Bellinger's performance has become crucial for the New York Yankees as Aaron Judge remains sidelined with a strained calf, potentially indefinitely. In Game 1 of their recent series against Tampa Bay, Bellinger delivered a two-run homer that secured a 2-0 victory. This marks his fifth home run in twelve games and underscores his importance to the team's playoff ambitions. With Judge’s $40 million salary being slightly surpassed by Bellinger’s $36.5 million this season, manager Aaron Boone expects Bellinger to step up significantly in Judge's absence, emphasizing a collective effort but highlighting Bellinger's pivotal role.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-23,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The New York Yankees face an uncertain playoff run without their star player, Aaron Judge, who is out indefinitely due to a strained right calf. In Game 1 of the wild-card series against Tampa Bay in The Bronx on Tuesday, Cody Bellinger stepped up with a two-run home run, providing all the scoring for the Yankees' 2-0 win. With Judge's absence, Bellinger's role has become even more critical; he is currently earning a salary of $36.5 million, second only to Judge's $40 million. The team’s manager, Aaron Boone, stated that they are "not expecting" Judge to be available for the upcoming series. Bellinger’s performance in recent games and his substantial contract suggest that he will be heavily relied upon by the Yankees to carry a significant portion of their offensive load during this crucial time.
Written for “Yankees Rely On Bellinger” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Aaron Judge is out, and the Yankees don’t know when — or if — he’ll be back.
asserted
he → know → ?
So if they’re going to go anywhere in the playoffs, they’ll almost certainly have to do some work without him.
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they → go → him
Try it freeThat means Cody Bellinger’s role will be even more important than it’s been for much of the season, and lately, he’s answered the call.
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he → try → call
It was Bellinger’s two-run shot in Game 1 on Tuesday that provided all the scoring in the 2-0 win over Tampa Bay in The Bronx.
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that → provide → Bronx
With Judge out indefinitely with a strained right calf, Aaron Boone said the team was “not expecting” Judge to be available for the wild-card series that begins next week.
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that → say → series
As Bellinger said following the win in Tuesday’s opener, any chance the Yankees have without Judge will be due to a collective effort.
But there’s little doubt that Bellinger — whose $36.5 million salary this year is second only to Judge’s $40 million — will be called upon more than most.
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salary → say → most
Against right-hander Nick Martinez of Tampa Bay, Bellinger hit second — a spot that he and Ben Rice have mostly split in Judge’s absence.
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he → hit → absence
Rice doubled off Martinez to lead off the bottom of the fourth of a scoreless game, and Bellinger followed with his shot out to right.
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Bellinger → double → right
“[Rice] had a great at-bat in front of me [and] saw a lot of pitches,’’ Bellinger said.
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Bellinger → have → pitches
I’m not trying to do too much at all.
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I → try → much
I want to keep it really simple, put a good swing on the ball.”
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I → want → ball
It’s the approach the Yankees are hoping to have without Judge, whose “moderate” strain has put their October plans in jeopardy.
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strain → ’ → jeopardy
“I think for us, it’s one game at a time,’’ Bellinger said.
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Bellinger → think → time
“We all believe in each other in this locker room.
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We → believe → room
We’re not looking too far ahead.
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We → look → ?
But it’s hard not to wonder how the lineup — and team — will withstand another Judge absence.
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lineup → ’ → absence
“Having Judge on our team helps us tremendously,’’ Bellinger said.
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Bellinger → have → us
“We’ve just got to continue to come out and win games, playing for each other, leaning on each other [and] playing good baseball.
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We → get → baseball
As the Yankees have noted, they’ve stayed in the postseason picture, even as Judge missed three-plus months with a fractured rib this summer.
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Judge → note → rib
“We have a lot of talent in this locker room, a lot of depth,” Bellinger said.
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Bellinger → have → depth
“A lot of different guys stepped up, whether it’s their first year in the big leagues or getting traded [here].
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it → step → leagues
We keep playing winning baseball.”
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We → play → baseball
Bellinger added to that not just with his bat Tuesday, but with his arm, as well.
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Bellinger → add → arm
After Victor Mesa Jr. opened the sixth with a single off Carlos Rodón, Bellinger started an inning-ending double play two batters later when Richie Palacios lined out to left.
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Palacios → open → left
Mesa didn’t know where the ball was and didn’t get back to first in time to beat Bellinger’s strong throw.
“He went through that stretch when he was struggling and then got injured,’’ Boone said of Bellinger’s earlier slump and hamstring injury.
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Boone → know → slump
“But he’s dialed in now and hitting line drives all over the ballpark. …
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he → dial → ballpark
It’s good to see as we get down the stretch.”
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we → ’ → stretch
The Aporia
