Yankees Monitor Judge's Health as Playoffs Approach

WHO:

MLB.com - Clarke Schmidt activated from the IL after 14 1/2 months, returning from Tommy John surgery.

MLB.com - Aaron Judge is the captain of the New York Yankees and has eight All-Star selections and three AL MVP awards.

MLB.com - Clarke Schmidt was activated from the IL after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

NY Post - Yankees star Aaron Judge is involved in the story.

MLB.com - Manager Aaron Boone is mentioned regarding Judge's status and treatment.

MLB.com - Heliot Ramos is noted as a player who pinch-hit for Judge.

MLB.com - Clarke Schmidt is mentioned as a player returning from injury.

WHAT:

Fox News - Judge will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain, making him inactive for the series against the Diamondbacks and the four-game series against the Rays next week.

MLB.com - Judge's earliest possible return date would be the season’s final game, September 27, against Baltimore.

MLB.com - The American League Wild Card Series is set to begin on September 29, with the Yankees potentially hosting the Red Sox.

MLB.com - Judge has appeared in just 66 games this season after missing over three months due to a rib injury.

MLB.com - Judge will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain, making him inactive for the series against the Diamondbacks and the four-game series against the Rays.

Fox News - Judge has appeared in just 66 games this season after missing over three months due to a rib injury.

MLB.com - Judge will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a right calf strain.

MLB.com - Judge's earliest possible return date would be the season’s final game, September 27, against Baltimore.

MLB.com - The American League Wild Card Series is set to begin on September 29, with the Yankees potentially hosting the Red Sox.

MLB.com - Schmidt struck out two batters and allowed two bloop singles in his first Major League outing of 2026.

MLB.com - The Yankees are currently 3 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East standings.

NY Post - Aaron Judge is battling a tight lower right leg, leaving his status uncertain for the upcoming series.

MLB.com - Judge hit his first home run since returning from the injured list during a game against the Twins, contributing to an 8-3 victory.

MLB.com - The Yankees clinched a berth in the 2026 postseason when the Blue Jays lost to the Tigers, 6-5.

MLB.com - Judge was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a double-play grounder before hitting a three-run home run.

MLB.com - Judge's home run had a launch angle of 36 degrees and traveled 415 feet.

MLB.com - Judge was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning of a game the Yankees lost, 5-4, in 13 innings.

MLB.com - Judge's batting statistics since returning include 4-for-21 with 11 strikeouts in six games.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The games mentioned took place at Target Field in Minneapolis.

WHEN:

Fox News - Judge's earliest possible return date would be the season’s final game, September 27, against Baltimore.

MLB.com - Judge returned from the injured list on September 8.

MLB.com - The Yankees' four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays is set to start on Tuesday.

WHY:

MLB.com - Judge felt stiffness in his lower right leg during the first inning of a game against the Twins, prompting his early exit.

MLB.com - Judge felt stiffness in his lower right leg during the first inning of a game against the Twins, prompting his early exit.

MLB.com - Judge expressed the importance of being ready for the postseason and the significance of upcoming games.

MLB.com - Boone mentioned the need to be smart with Judge's playing time due to his recent return from injury.

HOW:

MLB.com - Judge stated, "I thought it'd be the right move to come out, so I don't cost the team on the field or cost the team on the basepath."

MLB.com - Judge stated he decided to come out of the game to avoid risking further injury, saying, "I thought it'd be the right move to come out, so I don't cost the team on the field or cost the team on the basepath."

MLB.com - Judge was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 5-4, 13-inning loss to the Twins.

MLB.com - Schmidt's pitch count will be closely monitored, and he will not pitch on consecutive days.

MLB.com - Judge stated he felt stiffness in his lower right leg and decided to come out of the game to avoid risking further injury.

MLB.com - The Yankees plan to monitor Judge's recovery and will wait to issue a prognosis after he receives treatment.

Yankees star Aaron Judge will be placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right calf strain, making him inactive for the upcoming series against the Diamondbacks and the four-game series against the Rays next week. His earliest possible return could be for the season's final game on September 27 against Baltimore, just before the American League Wild Card Series begins on September 29, where the Yankees might host the Red Sox. Judge, who has only played in 66 games this season after missing over three months with a rib injury, explained that he felt it was the right decision to step back to avoid costing the team on the field or on the basepaths.