Yankees Weigh Judge’s Status Ahead of ALDS Opener vs. Rays

Yankees Weigh Judge's Status Ahead of ALDS Opener vs. Rays

Aaron Judge’s availability for the start of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays remains undecided, with the Yankees set to finalize their roster Saturday morning ahead of Game 1 at 6:30 p.m. in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Judge has been sidelined since Sept. 19 with a calf strain that first placed him on the 10-day injured list. He did not appear in New York’s two-game Wild Card sweep of the Boston Red Sox, a series the Yankees won to advance to the divisional round. Should he be added to the 26-man roster, it would mark his first appearance of this postseason.

Manager Aaron Boone said medical staff would help determine Judge’s status as the deadline approaches. “The trainers will obviously play a big part in this. As the day unfolds, we’ll see where we’re at and what it potentially looks like for the series,” Boone said. He noted Judge has taken part in live batting practice but said the team is still evaluating whether he could be used in the field or only in a limited capacity. “It’s just as far as him and the field, potentially,” Boone said. “But 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?'”

The Yankees open their three-game divisional series against the Rays on Saturday, with Judge’s roster eligibility expected to be clarified before first pitch.