Yankees Face Postseason Without Star Aaron Judge Due to Calf Strain
The team's playoff hopes hinge on its remaining stars as Judge is sidelined for the wild-card series.
The New York Yankees are preparing to enter the postseason without their captain, Aaron Judge, who is not expected to recover from a calf strain in time for the wild-card series.
Manager Aaron Boone described the injury as "moderate" and declined to assign a specific grade, indicating that Judge is unlikely to be active for the best-of-three series that begins Tuesday. The team might consider his availability for later rounds if they advance.
For more than half of the current season, the Yankees have navigated games without Judge, who previously missed significant time from June 1 to September 7 with a fractured rib. Their playoff fate now rests on the performance of the stars who have carried the team in his absence.
On Tuesday, the Yankees demonstrated a potential blueprint for success without Judge, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. Carlos Rodón delivered a strong pitching performance, and Cody Bellinger contributed significantly on both offense and defense. The team's pristine play on defense also played a crucial role in the victory.