Last night’s three-strikeout game, extended Aaron Judge’s strikeout streak to 36 consecutive games, passing pitcher Bill Stoneman to claim the title of the longest such single-season streak in MLB history.
It’s no secret that Judge has struggled in the second half. His strikeout rates have prompted fans and commentators alike to ask what is wrong with him. Thankfully, people far smarter than me have an answer.
Travis Sawchik of FanGraphs suggests that Judge’s decline is a result of 1) pitchers attacking him with fastballs high and away, and 2) him having the largest strike zone in the business.