Yankees first baseman Ben Rice has seen a notable decline in his performance following the injury to Aaron Judge, who is recovering from a fractured rib. With Judge out, Rice's offensive numbers have suffered significantly; he has only managed to hit .222 with just one RBI in the five games since Judge's absence. Despite being tied for fourth in the majors with 18 home runs and holding a strong OPS of 1.032, Rice's MVP candidacy is at risk as he lacks the protection that Judge typically provides in the lineup. ESPN had projected both Rice and Judge to exceed 50 home runs this season, aiming to join the ranks of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle from 1961. The Yankees' chances of winning the World Series currently sit at 14.2%, a figure that could decline if Rice continues to struggle. Giancarlo Stanton's return from injury is also uncertain, leaving Rice in a challenging position as the team heads into a critical stretch of the season.