The New York Yankees are heading to the American League Division Series after a dominant sweep of the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round. But as they prepare to face the Tampa Bay Rays starting Saturday at Tropicana Field, one question looms large: Will Aaron Judge be back in the lineup?
Judge, a three-time MVP, missed the entire Wild Card Series due to a right calf injury he suffered late in the regular season. Reports indicate the injury typically requires at least three weeks to fully heal, and the slugger was left off the 26-man roster for the Boston series.
On Friday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone offered an update that suggests the team is keeping the door open for a Judge return during the ALDS. Boone noted that Judge could be added to the roster even if he's not ready for Game 1.
"We're looking at the days, and so it's more, is he going to be available at some point in this series potentially as a player," Boone said. "That's what we're kind of weighing, and then seeing where he's at now these last few days, having taken live BP. We'll see how [Friday] goes."
The timing hints that the Yankees might be targeting a return for Judge when the series shifts back to the Bronx for Game 3. That would give the slugger extra days to heal and a chance to make an impact in front of the home crowd.
New York's pitching was the story in the Wild Card sweep, with starters Cam Schlittler and Max Fried allowing just one combined run over more than 12 innings. But the offense also stepped up, with key hits from Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Luis Garcia, Spencer Jones, George Lombard, Jazz Chisholm, and Austin Wells.
If the Yankees hope to advance to the ALCS, they'll need that balanced attack to continue against a tough Rays pitching staff. Adding Judge to the mix would be a massive boost, but even without him, this lineup has shown it can produce.
As the series approaches, all eyes will be on the injury report and any roster moves. Yankees fans are eager to see their captain back in action, and the team's cautious approach suggests they're willing to be patient for the right moment.
For now, the Yankees are focused on Game 1, but the possibility of Judge returning mid-series adds an intriguing layer to what promises to be a thrilling ALDS matchup. The team's recent off-field drama is behind them, and baseball is the priority again.
