Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is back on the 10-day injured list, a bombshell announcement Friday evening that throws a massive wrench into their postseason plans. He returned for only seven games after missing three months with a wrist issue, and now a right calf strain has shut him down again.
The Rollercoaster Season Takes Another Dive
Judge’s season has been a battle. After that lengthy wrist issue, he finally got back on the field, but a right calf strain sidelined him two days before this latest IL stint. He’s only played 66 games this season, his lowest total in any non-COVID year since his rookie call-up. His bat wasn’t even fully awake since his return, hitting a meager .174/.208/.304 in 24 plate appearances. He homered against the Twins on Monday, a flash of his power, but then BAM, back to the sidelines. The Yankees are without their three-time MVP.
Uncertainty Looms Large For October
With only 10 days left in the regular season, this timing could not be worse. The Yankees *can* backdate the transaction, potentially making Judge eligible to return on September 27, the final day of the regular season. But that’s a huge “if” when it comes to his body cooperating. Manager Aaron Boone refused to predict anything, simply saying, “I don’t know,” to reporters on Friday. The Wild Card Series starts September 29. A similar calf strain in 2020 kept Judge out for roughly three weeks; that timeline would mean he’d miss the entire Wild Card and only be back mid-ALDS, if they even reach that round. Judge is one of baseball’s most important players. The Yankees are 41-25 when he starts, but their record dips to 47-39 without him. That’s a huge difference for a team with a playoff berth already clinched!
The AL East Battle Just Got Tougher
The Yankees have clinched a playoff berth, but they still have an outside shot at winning the AL East and grabbing the top seed. They’re five games behind the Rays right now. Next up? A massive four-game series against the Rays at Yankee Stadium! Judge will be stuck on the bench for the entire series. That’s a brutal blow to their chances of closing that gap. After a three-game stop in Arizona, they finish their season at home with that Rays series and then three more against the Orioles. They’ve gotta dig deep if they want to make some noise without their biggest hitter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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