Aaron Judge could actually be finishing the entire regular season on the injured list. The Yankees superstar slugger is officially headed back to the 10-day IL, this time because of a right calf strain. We all saw it, right? He looked like he tweaked something while at the plate on Wednesday against the Twins, grimacing in a way no fan ever wants to see their star player. This is a brutal blow, especially with the postseason on the horizon.
Another Setback for the Slugger
This latest injury is just a kick to the gut after what’s already been a super frustrating year for Judge. He’s been sidelined for most of the season, thanks to a broken rib. Think about it: his 66 games played this season? That’s his lowest since that weird, COVID-impacted campaign back in 2020. And the numbers tell the story, too. After putting up back-to-back seasons with at least 50 dingers, the 34-year-old MVP only has 18 home runs this year. Before this latest setback, he only managed one home run and one extra-base hit in the seven games he played. You can just feel the frustration for him and the team, can’t you?
Postseason Picture Gets Murky
Here’s the thing, the Yankees have already locked up their postseason spot, which is huge, but they’re still trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by 4.5 games in the AL East standings. This new calf strain throws a massive wrench into everything. Nobody knows how this will impact Judge’s availability for the playoffs. Right now, it looks like the Yankees are set to face the Boston Red Sox in the AL wild-card series, with the winner getting a shot at the Rays in the ALDS. Losing Judge, even for a short time, could dramatically shift that whole scenario.
After they wrap up their three-game series in Arizona, the Yankees have a huge four-game set against the Rays coming up next week right there in the Bronx. Talk about high stakes. Then, they finish the regular season against Baltimore. The whole team needs to step up, and fans are just hoping this isn’t the last we see of Judge on the field this year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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