Aaron Judge is officially OFF the Yankees’ Wild Card Series roster. Yeah, you heard that right. The back-to-back American League MVP, who’s been battling a calf strain since September 16, will miss at least the first round of the playoffs against the rival Red Sox. This is a gut punch, no doubt about it, especially with how much chatter there was about his return.
That “Progress” Was a Smoke Screen, Huh?
Here’s the kicker: just on Monday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Judge was “making progress” after taking some swings in the batting cage on Sunday. Judge himself was saying his anti-gravity treadmill work was “feeling great” and he might even run outside. You’d think that’d mean he was a lock, right? Nope. Despite all that optimistic talk, the Yankees are rolling into the Wild Card Series without Judge. What a tease. It’s a huge blow for a lineup that already ties for ninth in MLB for runs scored and ranks 11th in OPS. Without Judge, that attack gets significantly lessened. They are going to need more than Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt to carry the load.
Judge, at 34, hasn’t had his vintage season in 2026. He missed three months earlier with a rib fracture, but when he *was* healthy, he was still highly productive. He’s rocking a .241 batting average, 45 runs, 18 home runs, 41 RBI, and 5 stolen bases. That’s good for an OPS+ of 140, meaning his offense is a hefty 40% better than the average hitter. The numbers prove his impact: the Yankees went 41-25 (.621) with him starting, compared to a still respectable 52-43 (.547) when he wasn’t. They needed every bit of that boost.
A Glimmer of Hope: Giancarlo Stanton is Back
On the flip side, there’s a small beacon of light. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton WILL be on the roster for the Red Sox series. Stanton’s had his own calf strain issues, sidelined since late April. He’s only played in 24 games this season, hitting three home runs in 90 at-bats. Not exactly lighting the world on fire this year, but we know what he can do. In 2025, he smacked 24 dingers in 77 games with a .594 slugging percentage.
Let’s not forget, Stanton is the active career home run leader in MLB with 456 across 17 seasons. He’s also a known playoff beast. In 48 career playoff games, all with the Yankees, he’s batted .254/.322/.605 with 18 home runs, including seven during previous Yankees playoff runs. He knows how to show up when it counts, and the Yankees are going to need every ounce of that experience against a strong Red Sox rotation.
Game 1 kicks off Tuesday night in the Bronx. This series is going to be an absolute grind, and it’s clear the Yankees are going into it with one hand tied behind their back. Without Judge, all eyes are on Stanton to deliver the kind of playoff magic he’s famous for. Let’s see if he can carry the load.
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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