Yankees fans are on pins and needles waiting for the start of the 2026 MLB playoffs on Tuesday, and star slugger Aaron Judge just dropped an update that’s more confusing than clear. Judge told reporters on Monday he’s “feeling great” for the series against the Boston Red Sox, but he also admitted he hasn’t even run the bases yet, which is a massive hurdle for anyone coming back from a lower-body injury.
Boone’s “Moderate” Take Doesn’t Jibe With Judge’s “Great” Vibe
This whole situation is a head-scratcher. Judge sounds optimistic, saying things like, “I don’t make those decisions. We’ll see how today goes and we’ll have a better answer for you at the end of this.” But Yankees manager Aaron Boone is singing a completely different tune. Boone has been openly uncertain, stating, “I don’t know. We’ll continue to evaluate and I’ll listen to trainers and medical and see where we’re at.” Last week, Boone went further, implying Judge wouldn’t play in the wild-card series against the Red Sox and that they were “planning on him not being a part of that,” even labeling Judge’s injury a “moderate” calf strain. Judge’s response to his manager’s words? “I don’t know why he used those words,” he told reporters. Talk about a disconnect!
Barely Back On The Field, Judge’s Bat Was Ice Cold
Let’s not forget the journey that led us here. Judge missed most of the regular season with a rib injury. He finally came back earlier this month, but his return was short-lived, lasting only seven games before a right calf strain landed him back on the injured list to finish the regular season. In those seven games, Judge looked rusty, hitting a meager .174/.208/.304 with just one homer and 13 strikeouts in 24 plate appearances. You can bet the Yankees would be in a much stronger position to beat the Red Sox if their big bat was healthy and productive.
So, here we are, days away from Game 1 on Tuesday, and no one, not even the team or the player, seems to have a clear answer. Will Judge somehow defy the odds and run out there? Or will the Yankees have to go into this critical wild-card matchup without him, leaving them scrambling against the Red Sox? It’s all up in the air, and for a playoff game, that’s just not what you want to hear.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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