Yankees Star Aaron Judge Likely to Miss Playoff Opener With Calf Injury

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is expected to miss the first round of the MLB playoffs due to a calf injury. Manager Aaron Boone stated Tuesday that the team is "planning on him not being a part of that," referring to the American League Wild Card Series, which is set to begin next week.

Judge received a platelet-rich plasma injection on Monday during the team's off-day, according to Boone. The injection came after the team's return from Arizona. Boone acknowledged that injury recovery timelines can range from two to six weeks, and while the playoffs are a week away, he is not ruling out Judge's participation, though he is not anticipating it.

The outfielder was placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday with a strained soleus muscle, a part of the lower calf. Boone described the strain as "moderate" but did not specify the grade. Judge is eligible to be activated for the regular-season finale on Sunday against Baltimore, but he is not expected to engage in significant activity in the coming days.

Judge, a three-time American League MVP, was removed from a game last week against the Minnesota Twins due to discomfort in his leg. This injury follows a previous absence of more than three months due to a broken rib. The 34-year-old had only recently returned to the lineup before experiencing this new setback.