Yankees Shine in Judge's Absence, Narrow Gap With Rays

WHO:

MLB.com - Max Schuemann is traveling to Phoenix to meet the Yankees for Saturday’s game.

MLB.com - Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge, Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Cody Bellinger, Max Schuemann, Corbin Carroll, Eduardo Rodriguez, Ben Rice, Amed Rosario, George Lombard Jr.

NY Post - Yankees

WHAT:

MLB.com - Aaron Judge's absence will extend to a four-game series against the Rays next week at Yankee Stadium.

MLB.com - Judge's MRI revealed a right calf strain, and he will be placed on the 10-day injured list on Saturday.

MLB.com - Gerrit Cole pitched 90 pitches, allowing four hits, no walks, and striking out six in the Yankees' 9-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.

MLB.com - Ben Rice hit his team-leading 39th home run during the game against the Diamondbacks.

MLB.com - The Yankees improved their record to 89-64 with the win against the Diamondbacks.

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

MLB.com - Judge's earliest possible return date would be the final regular-season game on September 27 vs. Baltimore.

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

MLB.com - The Yankees won for the 11th time in 15 games, moving within four games of the Rays in the AL East after Tampa Bay lost to Boston.

MLB.com - Judge had an MRI performed that revealed the strain.

MLB.com - Boone stated that generally, even a Grade 1 calf strain requires two to three weeks to recover.

MLB.com - Judge's earliest possible return date would be the final regular-season game on September 27 vs. Baltimore.

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

MLB.com - The Yankees won 9-2 against the Diamondbacks.

MLB.com - The Yankees moved to a record of 89-64.

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

MLB.com - Judge's earliest possible return date is the final regular-season game on September 27.

MLB.com - The American League Wild Card Series is set to begin on September 29.

MLB.com - Gerrit Cole pitched 90 pitches, with 62 strikes, allowing four hits, no walks, and striking out six.

MLB.com - Ben Rice hit his team-leading 39th home run.

MLB.com - Judge batted .241/.360/.511 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games this season.

MLB.com - Judge missed most of the summer with a fractured right rib.

WHERE:

MLB.com - The game took place at Chase Field in Phoenix.

MLB.com - The Yankees will face the Rays at Yankee Stadium next week.

WHEN:

MLB.com - Judge will be placed on the injured list on Saturday.

MLB.com - The Yankees entered play trailing the Rays by five games in the American League East.

WHY:

MLB.com - Manager Aaron Boone stated, “The reality is, we’ve had to play a lot of the season this year without him,” referring to Judge's ongoing absence.

MLB.com - Manager Aaron Boone stated, “There’s no replacing a player who is as great as Aaron Judge, but we have high expectations. Those don’t change now.”

MLB.com - Boone mentioned he would not provide the severity of Judge’s strain or an estimate for his expected return, stating, “I don’t know.”

MLB.com - Judge's injury is a right calf strain, which he sustained during a game against the Twins.

MLB.com - Manager Aaron Boone stated that the team has had to play much of the season without Judge.

HOW:

MLB.com - Cody Bellinger mentioned that the Yankees would have to “lean on each other” to overcome Judge’s absence.

MLB.com - Judge felt stiffness in his lower right leg during the first inning of a game against the Twins and decided to come out to avoid further injury.

MLB.com - Cody Bellinger mentioned that the Yankees would have to “lean on each other” to overcome Judge’s absence.

MLB.com - Cole focused on fixing his delivery and potential pitch-tipping issues before the game.

In a significant setback for the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge will be placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right calf strain, which means he will miss the upcoming four-game series against the Rays at Yankee Stadium. Despite this challenge, the Yankees secured a solid 9-2 victory over the Diamondbacks, with Gerrit Cole striking out six and Ben Rice hitting his team-leading 39th home run, bringing their record to 89-64. Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the team's resilience, noting that they've had to navigate much of the season without Judge, while Cody Bellinger emphasized the importance of teamwork to overcome this latest hurdle.