Judge left off Yankees’ ALDS roster as calf recovery continues

Aaron Judge will miss the Yankees' American League Division Series against Tampa Bay. New York left its captain off the 26-man roster Saturday as he continues recovering from the strained right calf that has kept him out since September 16.

The Yankees' official roster announcement confirms the decision:

Yankees ALDS roster announcement

The omission settles the question that remained open after Friday's workout. Judge had faced live pitching and continued his hitting work, but the club decided his recovery had not progressed far enough to include him for the best-of-five series. MLB.com reports that he can be added for a potential American League Championship Series if New York advances.

New York changed one spot from its Wild Card roster, adding left-hander Ryan Weathers and leaving off utility player Amed Rosario. That moves the pitching staff from 10 to 11 while keeping Giancarlo Stanton available among the position players. Stanton also missed much of the regular season with calf problems and was active for the Wild Card round without taking an at-bat, theScore reports.

Judge's absence extends an injury-disrupted season. Field Level Media reports that he played only seven games after returning September 8 from a fractured rib before suffering the calf strain. He finished the regular season with a .241 average, 18 home runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games.

The Yankees swept the Wild Card Series without him, scoring 18 runs in two games. Tampa Bay presents the next test, with Gerrit Cole listed to start Saturday's opener against Drew Rasmussen at Tropicana Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Eastern.

Judge's hitting work had kept a possible return in view all week. Saturday's roster makes New York's immediate plan concrete: play this series with the group that advanced, supplemented by another pitcher, while Judge continues his recovery.

Earlier reporting: Friday, October 2

Aaron Judge's Division Series availability remains undecided after Friday's workout. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the club was still weighing when Judge could contribute as New York prepares to submit its roster Saturday morning.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo reported that Judge faced live pitching Thursday and worked out Friday at the team's Tampa complex before joining the afternoon session at Tropicana Field. It was his third session against live pitching this week. Boone said Judge had begun running but was not sure whether he had run the bases.

Boone said Tampa's artificial turf factors into the decision as Judge recovers from the right calf strain that has sidelined him since September 16. He raised the possibility of carrying Judge with limited availability early in the series. That is a possibility, not an announced role.

Game 1 starts Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern. Judge's work documents progress, while Saturday's roster will establish whether he is available for this round. The latest uncertainty supersedes the earlier hope that he might return for the end of the regular season.

Boone addresses Judge's status and the Rays matchup in Friday's media session.

Earlier reporting: September injured-list move

The Yankees will place Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right calf strain, according to Major League Baseball's injury update. The club entered the day 81-62, four games behind Tampa Bay in the American League East and in position to compete for a wild-card place.

MLB reported that Judge could return for the final game of the regular season on Sept. 27. That timetable gives New York a defined target, but it also removes its most important hitter from the lineup during a stretch in which the Yankees are trying to hold their postseason position.

Earlier September injury reporting

The injury follows a late-season Yankees group already managing several health questions. MLB's update said Jazz Chisholm Jr. had hit for a fourth straight day while continuing to recover from a right thumb sprain, Ryan Weathers was scheduled for another side session but was no longer expected back by the end of the regular season, and Trent Grisham had advanced his running progression after a right hamstring strain.

New York's immediate schedule keeps the pressure on. The Yankees play at Arizona on Saturday and Sunday before returning home for the final week, so the club will have to cover Judge's absence while still playing a full September slate.

Judge's possible Sept. 27 return leaves a narrow runway before the postseason. Until then, the Yankees' lineup and their margin in the wild-card race will be tested without the player who has anchored the middle of the order.