Another Aaron Judge Yankees decision looms large over ALDS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Another eve of a playoff round, another day spent with all eyes on Aaron Judge. 

The Yankees’ three-time MVP took batting practice at Tropicana Field on Friday after working out on the grass at the club’s spring training home in Tampa earlier in the day, as he once again tries to show that he and his right calf are healthy enough to be added to the roster for the ALDS. 

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Judge’s late push was not enough to be included on the AL wild-card series roster against the Red Sox, but after the Yankees took care of business without him, he seems to have a better shot of joining them against the Rays, even if he is not immediately a full player. 

“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?” manager Aaron Boone said Friday afternoon before the Yankees worked out on the turf. “That’s what we’re kind of weighing and then seeing where he’s at now these last few days having taken live [batting practice].” 

The schedule could play into Judge’s favor. There are off days after Games 1, 2 and 4 in the best-of-five series, giving him more time to recover from the moderate right calf strain that he suffered Sept. 16. And while the Yankees may not want him playing on the turf at Tropicana Field — they do not seem inclined to use him at DH either, which would force Ben Rice to first base and Luis García Jr. to the bench — it is possible he could take on the role of Giancarlo Stanton in the wild-card series as a pinch-hit threat in the first two games and then be ready to play right field by Game 3 back in The Bronx. 

But as was the case for the wild-card series — and Judge’s entire comeback from the calf injury — the Yankees were not offering much insight on how they were leaning. 

“The trainers will obviously play a big part in this,” Boone said. “As the day unfolds, we’ll see where we’re at and what it potentially looks like for the series.” 

Judge took live batting practice for the first time Monday, did some light running in the outfield Tuesday, then took live batting practice on both Wednesday (in Somerset) and Thursday (at Yankee Stadium) before the Yankees flew here. The biggest box left to check appears to be running the bases, but after taking on-field batting practice at Tropicana Field on Friday, he did not do any running or defensive work on the turf. 

“Sometimes running the bases, they replicate things in other ways,” Boone said. “We’ll make those calls probably later [Friday night].” 

The amount of off days in the series could also benefit Judge in that it may allow the Yankees to carry more position players than they might if it was condensed. Boone mentioned deciding between 10-12 pitchers, which means 14-16 position players, after carrying 16 position players and 10 pitchers for the wild-card series. It might be risky to carry someone who is not a full player if they were limited in bench options, but with an extra spot or two, it could be worth taking Judge. He only hit 4-for-23 with one home run, one walk and 13 strikeouts in seven games after returning from a three-month absence for a broken rib. But it is Aaron Judge. 

The Rays, meanwhile, were doing their prep work as if Judge would be in the lineup — if only because doing so was the best defense mechanism. 

“I was thinking that Aaron Judge was going to be there a week ago just so I’m not devastated when he’s on,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I expect him playing right field, hitting third.” 

“I’ve done my deep dive on Aaron Judge,” Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen said with a chuckle. “I think we make the assumption he’s in there until he’s not.” 

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But Cash offered praise for how the Yankees have played without Judge. They survived his extended absence this summer, going 45-39, but then played their best without him against the Red Sox in the wild-card series, with guys chipping in up and down the lineup. 

“It’s incredibly impressive,” Cash said, “the offensive success that they have had missing the best hitter in our sport.”