Rizzo: Judge is 'a game-changer' — if he's healthy

The status of Aaron Judge (right calf strain) remains in doubt ahead of the start of the AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.

But his former teammate Anthony Rizzo, who will be the "Inside the Pitch" analyst on NBC Sports’ broadcast of the Yankees’ three-game series vs. the Red Sox, has no doubt that Judge will be impactful if he finds his way on the roster.

“I think he could be a big factor if he's on the roster, if he's healthy enough to be on the roster,” Rizzo said Monday afternoon on an NBC Sports conference call previewing the Wild Card Series. “I know he wants to be in there. It's Yankees-Red Sox. This is a massive rivalry. You cannot take any playoff game for granted, right? You don't know when you're going to be back. But if he's in the lineup, I expect him to be a huge factor.

“Aaron Judge standing in the batter's box is Aaron Judge standing in the batter's box. It doesn't matter if he's on one leg. It doesn't matter if he has one arm. He is a threat, and he will be respected by every pitcher that's facing him.”

Rizzo has experience wearing pinstripes and facing Boston in the postseason. The Red Sox defeated the Yankees, 6-2, in the 2021 AL Wild Card Game – a game in which Rizzo hit a solo homer.

As an “Inside the Pitch” analyst, Rizzo will be offering insight from the batter’s perspective and will be located outside the broadcast booth, likely near the dugouts.

“Hopefully for the game [Judge is] in there, and hopefully he's at whatever the full strength he's at and can stay healthy through the longevity of these playoffs,” Rizzo added. “But it's going to be, I mean, him being in there will be a game-changer, in my opinion.”

By Ben Dickson

benjamin.dickson@newsday.com@bendickson__

Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.