The New York Yankees’ postseason quest for a 28th World Series championship will begin Tuesday night–without Aaron Judge.
The superstar slugger will not be part of the team’s roster for the American League Wild Card round against the Boston Red Sox, YES Network’s Jack Curry reported this morning. Judge, who was limited to only 66 games played this season due to injuries, has not played since Sept. 16 due to a right calf strain.
Not for lack of trying
Judge, 34, who was also sidelined for more than three months by a stress fracture in his rib, had been working out the last several days in the hope he would be activated for the start of the playoffs.
“I’ve been doing a lot of convincing,” Judge said Monday, when he took live at-bats for the first time in nearly two weeks. “I feel like I’m going to keep doing that. But I think the most important thing is just making sure I’m healthy and ready to go for this long stretch. We got another month of baseball to play so I want to be ready for the long run we’re going to go on here for this next month. We’re all going to be smart, but I think they all know I want to be out there, especially that first game.”
The correct call
As badly as Judge wanted to return to face Boston, holding him out of action is the right move.
If the Yankees advance to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series beginning this weekend, it is possible Judge could be included on the roster, though New York’s decision makers also must weigh the risk of allowing him to return if he is not 100%. Judge’s injury is to his soleus muscle, which could lead to a torn Achilles tendon.
“Guys take risks every single day. I know a lot of guys in here are banged up and dealing with stuff,” the three-time AL MVP said this week. “So, yeah, I understand the risks.”
Interestingly, Giancarlo Stanton, who has not played in a game since late April due to multiple calf strains, reportedly will be on the Yankees’ Wild Card roster, though he is most likely to be deployed situationally as a pinch-hitter.
Game 1 between the Yankees and Red Sox is set for 8 p.m. ET Tuesday on NBC.
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