NEW YORK (AP) — Injured New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge was notably absent from the team’s roster for the AL Wild Card Series set to begin against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night. Judge has been sidelined since September 16 due to a strained right calf, which left him unable to participate in the postseason matchup.
Despite Judge’s absence, Giancarlo Stanton was included in the roster. Stanton, who has been out of action since April 24 due to strained calf muscles in both legs, was listed among the available players, as was center fielder Trent Grisham. Both players remained on the bench for Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
In an effort to convince manager Aaron Boone and the medical staff of his readiness, Judge took live batting practice on the field on Monday. He walked twice, hit a comebacker to the mound, and took a called third strike against teammates Ryan Weathers and Elmer Rodríguez. Despite these attempts, Judge did not participate in pregame introductions on Tuesday.
The three-time AL MVP underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection on September 21 following his injury. This year, the 34-year-old slugger faced a series of injuries, having previously missed time from May 31 to September 8 due to a fractured rib. Overall, Judge participated in only 66 games during the season, recording a batting average of .241, with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs. Notably, he struggled in September, hitting just .174 with one homer and three RBIs.
“He’s had a good couple of weeks obviously grinding and doing everything he possibly can to be an option. Just felt like he’s not quite there yet,” Boone stated, while remaining optimistic about Judge’s prospects moving forward.
Stanton, on the other hand, had a promising start to the season with a batting average of .256, three home runs, and 14 RBIs over 24 games before his lengthy injury. He is considered a valuable pinch-hitting option against a Boston pitching staff that boasts seven left-handed pitchers on the roster.
“He’s never stopped going and grinding even through some tough moments and setbacks, and he’s put himself in a position,” Boone noted regarding Stanton’s determination and readiness.
Grisham, who had been sidelined since September 4 due to a right hamstring strain, contributed to the Yankees’ plans as one of their 16 position players for the postseason.
From the Boston Red Sox side, ace left-hander Garrett Crochet, who had a successful outing during the previous season's Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and would be available in the bullpen. Crochet had been out since April 25 due to issues with left shoulder inflammation, and manager Chad Tracy pointed out that his presence could be critical for the team.
In the Philadelphia Phillies camp, second baseman Luis Arraez, a three-time batting champion, was ruled out for their series against Atlanta after spraining his left ankle. Another deadline acquisition, left-hander Brooks Raley, was also omitted from the roster.
In contrast, the Chicago White Sox included outfielder Tommy Pham, who was acquired from Philadelphia on August 31, among their position players for their series against Houston. Pham notably recorded a .429 batting average during the 2023 World Series against Texas.
The Houston Astros missed out on right-hander Ethan Pecko, who was left off the list due to injury, while including Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, who had a mixed season record. Additionally, the San Diego Padres welcomed Joe Musgrove back onto their roster after his recovery from Tommy John surgery, marking the potential of his return in the postseason.
As the playoffs unfold, each team's decisions reflect their strategies and the challenges posed by injuries, making the quest for the championship all the more intriguing.
