Aaron Judge Left Off Yankees’ Wild Card Roster Against Red Sox
Aaron Judge will miss the Yankees’ Wild Card Series against the Red Sox with a right calf strain. His earliest possible return would be the ALDS.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
Aaron Judge will not be on the New York Yankees’ roster for their American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, removing the club’s captain from the entire best-of-three round because of a right calf strain.
MLB confirmed the roster decision on Tuesday, September 29, hours before Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. Judge can continue rehabilitating, but postseason rosters are locked for each series, so his earliest possible return would be the American League Division Series if New York advances.
A second injury interrupts Judge’s comeback
Judge was placed on the 10-day injured list on September 19, retroactive to September 17, with a moderate strain of the right soleus muscle. He had been hitting and throwing indoors and was scheduled for an on-field workout, but the Yankees determined he was not ready for the Wild Card round.
The calf injury came shortly after Judge returned from a broken rib that had kept him out for 84 games. He played seven games following his September activation and went 4-for-23 with one home run.
Judge finished the regular season batting .241 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .511 slugging percentage. He hit 18 home runs and drove in 41 runs across 66 games, production the Yankees will now have to replace against Boston.
Yankees get Stanton and Grisham back
New York did receive two important pieces of better injury news. Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham are on the Wild Card roster after working back from calf and hamstring injuries, respectively.
Stanton gives manager Aaron Boone another right-handed power option, while Grisham provides outfield depth that becomes more important without Judge. The Yankees’ remaining outfield group also includes Cody Bellinger, Spencer Jones and Heliot Ramos.
No mid-series return for Judge
The timing makes the decision especially significant. Because Judge was omitted from the 26-man roster before Game 1, New York cannot simply activate him later in the series if his calf improves.
The Yankees host all three potential games against Boston. Cam Schlittler, who finished the season 14-6 with a 1.95 ERA, starts the opener for New York as the rivals meet in the postseason for the seventh time.
Judge will continue his rehabilitation with a potential ALDS return as the target. For now, the Yankees must survive the opening round without the centerpiece of their lineup.
