KC Royals' surprise ALDS Game 1 starter is a nightmare for Yankees' Aaron Judge

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge needs a huge postseason in 2024 to answer several unnecessarily lingering questions. Unfortunately, it's about to get off on an uncomfortable foot.

On Wednesday evening, the Kansas City Royals pitched (and, specifically, bullpenned) their way past the surprisingly frosty Orioles, whose August and September lull lasted through Oct. 2. Such a shame, too. They totally would've beaten the Yankees if they'd advanced. Guess we'll never know.

Bobby Witt Jr. drove in two of the three runs KC scored in the series, so if the Yankees take notes and learn to pitch around him, they actually might be alright here. Unfortunately, though, the scrappy Royals do bring some significant arms to the table, and it's fair to feel like the Yankees are starting behind the eight ball against Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Brady Singer.

Ragans and Lugo pitched Tuesday and Wednesday, meaning that, due to the stretched-out ALDS schedule, Lugo could go on regular rest in Game 2. Instead, though, KC has bumped him to Game 3 at home, opting to start Ragans in the second contest and Michael Wacha in the opener.

You may remember Wacha from bedeviling the Yankees with the Rays despite a 5.05 ERA and rampant mediocrity, then resurrecting his career with the Red Sox (as always) by going slow-slower-slowest. Naturally, this dull-as-paint-drying pitch mix has facilitated him lording over Aaron Judge like few have.

Yankees Captain Aaron Judge struggles mightily against KC Royals' Game 1 starter Michael Wacha

The Royals setting up the Yankees with the most mediocre option of their front four first? Classic. They really do know our Achilles heel. At least, when Achilles went down, he only collapsed once, rather than 27 times with 16 strikeouts (annually).

This has been Judge's season, to date, but the last time the Yankees' captain dominated a campaign so thoroughly, he started off the ALDS against the Guardians by going 4-for-20 with 11 Ks, then heard boos in an ALCS sweep at the hands (or, rather, the arms) of the Astros.

This October, it's the Yankees vs. the AL Central, and Judge has no excuse not to live up to his superstar billing against the only division he's managed to beat in any postseason series (it's sarcasm and it's true, unless you count the one-game Wild Card vs. Oakland in 2018).

Wacha might not be a nightmare Game 1 option for anyone else, but he makes perfect sense here, especially if your goal is to make Judge question himself early. Don't forget: he ended the regular season with an 0-for-5 Golden Sombrero (plus one), too.