The New York Yankees have left captain Aaron Judge off their 26-man roster for the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, starting Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Judge continues to recover from a right calf strain and was not cleared for full base running before the roster deadline.
The 34-year-old outfielder has been sidelined since sustaining a moderate soleus muscle strain in his right calf on Sept.
16 against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
That injury followed an earlier 84-game absence due to a fractured right rib suffered in late May.
Despite receiving a platelet-poor plasma injection in late September and participating in live batting practice sessions in the Bronx and Tampa, Judge was not ready in time.
Boone Explains Roster Decision
Manager Aaron Boone said Judge's physical readiness and the artificial turf at Tropicana Field played roles in the organization's evaluation process ahead of Game 1.
"We'll see," Boone said. "He'll be working out Friday.
He hit again live Thursday at Yankee Stadium. He's doing more today over at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and Tropicana Field.
So we'll probably make those calls later tonight."
Boone further detailed how the venue's playing surface factors into the club's decision regarding Judge's outfield availability.
"It plays into it a little bit," 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?
That's what we're kind of weighing and then seeing where he's at now these last few days, having taken live BP."
Before the decision was finalized, Judge expressed his personal desire to participate in the postseason push while acknowledging his recovery timeline.
"Saturday is a long ways away," Judge said.
"I'm doing everything I can -- all morning, night, during the game, everything -- to prepare myself to be ready to go.
Yeah, I want to be in there. But we'll see what happens."
In 66 regular-season games this year, the three-time AL MVP hit . 241 with 18 home runs and an .
871 OPS for New York.
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who was active during the wild-card sweep of the Boston Red Sox, noted the challenge of returning to playoff action after missing significant playing time.
"You see as much velocity as you can," Stanton said. "Just try to visualize stuff out there and be ready for the moment."
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash indicated during pre-series preparation that his coaching staff was planning as if Judge would be in the opposing starting lineup.
"I expect him playing right field, hitting third," Cash said.
New York rookie pitcher Cam Schlittler praised Judge's presence in the clubhouse following the team's series victory over Boston.
"I mean, we already got an MVP in this locker room. He's won three of them," Schlittler said.
Schlittler also reflected on Judge's regular-season performance and how injuries impacted his overall production.
"If he were in there this whole season, he'd probably have it," Schlittler said.
The Yankees advanced to the ALDS after outscoring the Red Sox 18-2 in a two-game wild-card sweep without Judge, supported by designated hitter Ben Rice, who went 5-for-9 with two home runs and six RBIs.
Gerrit Cole is scheduled to start Game 1 for New York against Tampa Bay's Drew Rasmussen.
