Yankees first basemen struggle amid injuries to key players

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Aug 18, 2026, 6:30 PM

Last updated Aug 18, 2026

Yankees first basemen struggle amid injuries to key players
Summary

As the Yankees face the impact of Aaron Judge's injury, their first basemen have faltered significantly. Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt, previously strong offensive contributors, have seen their performance drop drastically since late July. Rice has posted a 38 wRC+ and Goldschmidt just a 144/.212/.221 slash line. The acquisition of Luis García Jr. has not yet provided the expected boost. With Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton absent from the lineup, the need for improvement at first base is critical as the Yankees head down the stretch of the 2026 season.

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Status Watch
  • Ben Rice's wRC+ has plummeted to 38 since July 28.
  • Paul Goldschmidt is slashing.144/.212/.221 in his last 113 plate appearances.
  • Luis García Jr. has not yet made an impact since joining the Yankees.
  • Aaron Judge's absence is a significant factor in the lineup's struggles.
  • Yankees are currently lacking offensive production from key players.
Latest Updates
  • 6:30 PMYahoo SportsThe Yankees aren’t getting what they need at first base
What they're saying
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The Yankees first basemen have been leaving plenty on the table of late.

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