Aaron judges is not on the Yankees’ roster for the AL Division Series, according to Jack Curry of YES Network. Barring an injury that requires the removal of a member of the current 26-man roster, Judge will miss New York’s second straight playoff run.
A right calf strain forced Judge to prematurely retire from the Yankees’ 5–4 loss to the Twins on September 16, and he was placed on the 10-day injured list three days later (with retroactive placement to the 17th). The timing obviously raised many questions about Judge’s availability for the postseason, and while the three-time AL MVP was hopeful he would be ready for the Wild Card Series, manager Aaron Boone was less optimistic.
It turned out the Yankees didn’t need Judge in what was a lopsided sweep of the Red Sox in the ALWCS. New York outscored Boston 18-2 over the two games, as almost the entire Yankees lineup took over offensively. Naturally, it’s asking a lot for the Yankees to continue this kind of offense for the remainder of the postseason, and the club’s chances of beating the Rays (let alone winning the World Series) will be hampered by Judge’s absence.
While his teammates faced the Red Sox, Judge spent the past week taking batting practice and other live swings at Yankee Stadium and the Yankees’ minor league facilities. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch and several other beat writers, Judge was scheduled to participate in a workout yesterday at the Yankees’ spring training complex, and Boone said Judge had not yet run the bases before that workout.
It appears Judge’s calf hasn’t healed enough yet for the Yankees to risk activating him from the IL. As difficult as it is for the Yankees to get past the Rays, the broader element of Judge’s availability is another factor — if Judge had been on the roster but then had to be removed due to injury, he would not have been eligible for the ALCS. Tropicana Field’s artificial surface was likely another factor in the Yankees’ decision, as playing on turf could have posed a greater risk to Judge’s calf (or he simply would have been a defensive liability in right field). Even if Judge was used solely as a DH rather than a right fielder, that means Ben Rice Or Luis Garcia Jr. would have been excluded from the programming.
Injured Yankee returns to ALDS as a left-hander Ryan Weather is part of the 26-man roster. Weathers hasn’t pitched since Aug. 22, as a left flexor strain sidelined him for more than a month of the regular season and ALWCS. Weathers replaces Amed Rosario in the only change from the list of 26 New York players deployed against Boston….
Seekers: Austin Wells, Ali Sanchez
Infielders: Jazz Chisholm Jr.Luis Garcia Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, George Lombard Jr., Ryan McMahonBen Riz, Anthony Volpe
Voltigeurs: Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Spencer Jones, Heliot Ramos
Utility drives: Jose Caballero
DH: Giancarlo Stanton
Left-handed pitchers: Max Frit, Brent Headrick, Carlos RodonRyan Weathers, Ryan Yarbrough
Right-handed pitchers: David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, John Schreiber, Will Warren
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