Yankees’ Aaron Judge: Why we’ll beat the A’s

Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge talks beating the A’s in the American League Wild Card, Luis Severino and the condition of his right wrist.

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NEW YORK — Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge sees the do-or-die test ahead of his team no differently than any other game. He thinks his teammates feel the same way.

“We’re confident every game we ever go out there we’re going to win,” Judge said. “That’s our mindset. It never changes, no matter the situation.”

With the American League Wild Card matchup with the A’s looming Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, Judge spoke for several minutes before a workout Tuesday.

The 26-year-old addressed the status of the right wrist he fractured in July, the A’s unorthodox approach to the battle, and Luis Severino getting the start for the Yankees over J.A. Happ and Masahiro Tanaka.

See Yankees’ 25-man Wild Card roster

On his wrist

A fastball fractured Judge’s wrist July 6. He missed almost a month and a half while on the disabled list. On Sunday, hitting coach Marcus Thames said Judge has started to look very good at that plate and that the rust has seemingly been knocked off his swing.

“I wouldn’t be playing the past couple of weeks if I wasn’t healthy,” he said.

On the A’s

Oakland will start right-hander Liam Hendriks. He’s a reliever but that’s the point. Manager Bob Melvin will try to bullpen his way past the Yankees, maybe changing pitchers every inning, since he doesn’t have a starting pitcher capable of getting past the hulking Yankees lineup multiple times through the order.

Judge said facing the Rays, who have used bullpen days multiple times against the Yankees, has prepared them well.

“When we’ve faced them, usually, if it’s not (Rays ace Ian) Snell pitching, usually they’re coming with an opener and I’m seeing four or five different pitchers a game,” Judge said. “Having that experience already is going to help.”

What’s the key beating a team using multiple pitchers throughout a game?

“The biggest thing is, you can’t have those at-bats to get comfortable You know you’ve got a starter on the mound, if we’re facing the Red Sox and we’re facing (Rick) Porcello or Sale or someone like that, you know they’re going to try to go five, six (or) seven innings so you know you’re going to get a couple at-bats off them,” Judge said.

“So, after that first at-bat, you can kind of see how they’re going to attack you, what his fastballs doing, what pitches are working for him. When you’re facing a different guy every at-bat, he’s coming out there with his best stuff. There’s no warmup. You can’t see a pitch. You’ve got to be locked in from the very first pitch. That’s a difference.”

On Severino

The Yankees didn’t announce their starting pitcher until Tuesday afternoon. Severino got the nod because he has the best chance to dominate the righty-heavy A’s lineup and, when he’s at his best, he’s the Yankees’ ace.

Judge agreed.

“He’s our ace. He’s our guy. He should be throwing this game,” Judge said.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.