Aaron Judge Eyes Playoff Return Amid Yankees' Ongoing Battle with Injuries

New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge is aiming for a return to play in the postseason as he recovers from a calf strain, a setback that has once again placed him on the injured list. "I'd like to be back by the postseason; that's definitely the plan," Judge stated Saturday. "We're going to do everything we can to get back as soon as we can."

This statement follows Judge's return to the lineup on September 8 after an extended absence due to a right rib stress fracture. The current injury, a calf strain, marks another significant challenge for the team as the American League wild card series approaches. "Definitely frustrated," Judge commented on the recurring injury. "Dealt with strains before and kind of played through them, but this was in a different spot where it made it a little bit more difficult."

Judge indicated the injury involves his Soleus muscle, which he described as crucial for running and hitting. The focus, he reiterated, remains on being ready for October baseball.

In Judge's absence, the Yankees have relied on their remaining roster to maintain performance. "Lean on each other," said teammate Cody Bellinger. "The game itself is hard; if you add too much pressure on yourself, the game becomes even harder. So we really just have to play for each other, lean on each other, pass the baton, do your job and control what you can control."

The team demonstrated resilience on Friday, securing a 9-2 victory against the Diamondbacks shortly after Judge was placed on the 10-day injured list. However, the Yankees experienced a challenging summer during Judge's previous 84-game absence due to the rib injury, during which their offensive production significantly declined. While the team had shown signs of recovery prior to Judge's initial return, they now face a similar situation with the playoffs looming.

Manager Aaron Boone noted the team's consistent performance throughout the season, stating, "We've played most of the year this way, and I feel like in a lot of cases, especially some of our key guys over the last few weeks have started to, especially offensively, get it going like we know they're capable of."

During the summer when Judge was sidelined, the Yankees ranked among the bottom in several offensive categories, including runs per game, batting average, and OPS. Despite these struggles, the team saw contributions from new additions and emerging players, such as Luis García Jr. and rookie outfielder Spencer Jones. Ben Rice, in particular, has shown a resurgence in recent weeks, improving his offensive output.

"Special year," pitcher Gerrit Cole said of Rice's performance. "Has made some really good adjustments from previous years... Not only is he really proficient with the bat, but he's a smart player and a hard worker, which is leading him to have a really outstanding season for us."

Rice emphasized the importance of team effort and consistent at-bats rather than individual pressure. "Everyone just goes out there and stays within themselves, tries to put together quality at-bat after quality at-bat," he said. "Pitching is always going to be doing their thing... So from an offensive standpoint, just do what we did [Friday]: go out and have a team at-bat, trust the guy behind you and keep the line moving."

The Yankees' pitching staff has been a cornerstone of their success, particularly during Judge's extended absence. "We have a lot of confidence in here," Cole remarked. "For the most part of the summer, we've been tested really, really hard and we responded, by and large, really, really well."