Massive Blow: Yankees preparing to play Wild Card Series without Aaron Judge

The New York Yankees are preparing for the possibility of opening the postseason without Aaron Judge , a major setback as they move toward a potential American League Wild Card meeting against the Boston Red Sox . Aaron Boone said that he does not expect the MLB star to be ready when the Wild Card Series begins on September 29, although the general manager stopped short of completely ruling out a late recovery.

Judge was placed on the injured list on Friday, September 18 after suffering a right calf strain against the Minnesota Twins , adding another setback to a season already disrupted by a fractured rib. Yankees fans, though, can take comfort in that Boone left the door open to the 34-year-old returning in time to compete in the Wild Card game, which would be a major boost if they take on the Red Sox . Judge had only recently returned from his rib injury, appearing in seven games before the calf problem interrupted his comeback and left his postseason status uncertain as he went 4-for-23 with 13 strikeouts, one walk and one home run during that cameo. As New York aims to manage the situation, Heliot Ramos has started in right field since their star got hurt, while Spencer Jones could also enter the postseason picture if Trent Grisham returns from his hamstring injury. “We’ve played much of the year without him,” Boone continued. “And for the most part, we’ve done a pretty good job, and so guys are used to it. “Obviously you always want your best player in the mix, but we understand we’ve got a job to do and an expectation to win and I think that expectation doesn’t change.”

Yankees aim to win American League East pennant

But the Yankees still have important work ahead before the postseason, with the Tampa Bay Rays entering Tuesday’s doubleheader holding the AL East lead over New York . The Yankees entered the day 89-66, six games behind the Rays at 95-60, and with seven regular-season games remaining and every one of those contests scheduled at Yankee Stadium . The hosts are also positioned among the AL Wild Card teams, leaving their postseason place within reach even if Tampa Bay holds onto the division lead to remove lingering pressure. The current pitching plans include Carlos Rodon and Drew Fried in the doubleheader, followed by Gerrit Cole on September 23 and Cam Schlittler on September 24 as the team aims to build momentum for the postseason. With Judge ’s recovery timeline still unclear, the Yankees are preparing for the possibility that their captain will have to watch the opening postseason series rather than help them on the field.