If Aaron Judge is going to play a playoff game for the Yankees this year, they’ll have to at least beat the Red Sox without him.
The Yankees left their captain off the AL wild-card list they submitted to the league office Tuesday morning, with his late surge not being enough for the team to feel comfortable taking the risk of playing him less than two weeks removed from a right calf injury.
Judge was trying to work his way onto the roster and then, surprisingly, participated in live batting practice Monday night at the Yankees’ practice in the Bronx.
But ultimately, the Yankees erred on the side of caution and will try again to see if they can get him back in time for the ALDS against the Rays, if they can get past the Red Sox in the best-of-three series.
Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham, meanwhile, both went straight to the injured list, while Ryan Weathers did not.
The Yankees have 10 pitchers and 16 position players, which allows Aaron Boone to get aggressive in how he uses his bench, especially against the Red Sox horde of lefties.
Stanton is expected to be a pinch hitter — his right-handed threat taking on even more importance without Judge — after missing five months with three separate calf strains.
What version of the veteran slugger the Yankees get is a giant question, even though he continued to hit during most of his extended absence.
Grisham returns from his hamstring strain as a fourth outfielder who could start in center against right-hander Sonny Gray in Game 2, pushing Spencer Jones to right field.
Otherwise, Jones has probably done enough to stay at center while Grisham could be a left-handed hitting option off the bench or a late-game defensive replacement.
Weathers, who missed the final month of the regular season with a strained left forearm flexor muscle, seemed likely to make the roster until the Yankees decided to have him throw an inning of live batting practice during Monday’s practice (the second of his preparation), which meant he wouldn’t be available for the first game and possibly the second.
Going this route gives Weathers a better chance to pitch more often if the Yankees can get to the ALDS.
The final spots in the bullpen therefore went to left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and right-hander John Schreiber, while left-hander Tim Hill was left out after a difficult end to the season in which he became more susceptible to home runs.
Yarbrough provides some length if the Yankees find themselves in a bind while Schreiber has been tough on righties.
Utility utilityman Amed Rosario also makes the roster, with the Yankees continuing to believe he can be an impact bat against lefties, even though he hasn’t put up career numbers against them this season.
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