The New York Yankees took care of business on Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, completing a sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 7-0 victory. The win pushed New York to 13-9, the best record in the American League. The Royals have now lost 8 of their last 10 games.
The afternoon belonged to Ryan Weathers on the mound and Ben Rice at the plate, but the player who tied it all together was Aaron Judge. Judge drove in the game’s first runs with a two-run homer in the first inning, his ninth of the season. A rain delay of over three hours before first pitch did nothing to disrupt the Yankees’ rhythm.
After the game, Judge made clear what Sunday’s performance meant to him.
Judge Opens Up Postgame
Judge was asked about having Ben Rice hit in front of him.
“I know he’s going to be on base a lot,” Judge said, “so it’s going to make my job easier to try to get him in scoring position or drive him in like we did in the first.”
Sunday was the proof of concept, with Rice reaching base on a walk in the first inning, setting the table for Judge to clear it with a two-run shot into the seats. It worked exactly as advertised from the opening at-bat.
Judge expanded on what that kind of lineup construction means to him.
“I just love having guys on in front of me,” he said. “Especially if we’ve got Trent Grisham, Ben Rice or Paul Goldschmidt in front of me, there’s going to be some traffic out there.”
Rice delivered in the role. Batting leadoff for the first time this season, Rice worked a walk in the first, homered in the second for his eighth of the season and fourth in four straight games, and drew another walk before the afternoon was done.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 19: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run in the first inning against Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals during their game at Yankee Stadium on April 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Judge on Weathers Performance
The offense delivered for the pitching staff on Sunday, and Judge made sure to acknowledge it.
“I was just happy we were able to get him some runs,” Judge said. “I feel like the last couple of outings, he’s done a great job. He’s kind of pitched his butt off and we haven’t really given him support offensively that he needed.”
Weathers made the most of it. He kept Kansas City off the board across 7⅓ innings, holding the Royals to five hits and a walk while punching out eight. After a shaky outing last time out, Weathers came back with a performance that reflected real work between starts.
“There was a lot of work between starts, focusing on location and just relaxing,” Weathers said.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 19: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Kansas City Royals during their game at Yankee Stadium on April 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
What It Means for the Yankees
New York finished the week with another win, and the sweep of Kansas City serving as the perfect punctuation mark.
At 13-9, the Yankees sit atop the American League. The roster is producing across the board. Rice is forcing lineup decisions that a manager should want to have. Weathers is showing the kind of ceiling that the Yankees want to see. And Judge is doing what Judge does, driving in runs and lifting everyone around him in the process.
The road trip begins Tuesday in Boston. The Red Sox are struggling at 8-13. The Yankees will arrive with momentum and the best record in the league.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 19: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees heads to the dugout during the game against the Kansas City Royals during their game at Yankee Stadium on April 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Final Word for the Yankees
Rice is making the case that he belongs at the top of the order. Weathers is making the case that the Yankees were right to build him into the rotation. Judge is making the case that this team is built for October.
Traffic on the bases. Zeros on the board. The Yankees are rolling.
Yankees Get Major Aaron Judge Message After Royals Sweep