Barring big winning or losing streaks for either team in the final week of the season, the Boston Red Sox will most likely visit the Bronx to face the New York Yankees in the first American League Wild Card series. Boston's path to the Division Series might've gotten easier.
The Yankees do not expect Aaron Judge to be available for the Wild Card round, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. The slugging outfielder prematurely exited New York's September 16 game with a calf strain, which has been diagnosed as moderate, according to Kirschner.
Judge has been out for most of the season (from May 31-September 8) with a rib stress fracture. The Yankees were looking forward to having him back for their playoff chase, but they might've been shortsighted in their attempt to get him back in action so soon. He didn't take a rehab assignment before he returned on September 8 from his nearly 100-day absence, which has already come back to haunt New York.
Even before the injury, Judge didn't look like his usual self at the plate. He was slugging homers at close to his usual pace, but he didn't maintain his high-average hitting from previous years. Judge batted .248/.375/.533 with 10 doubles, 17 home runs and 38 RBI through May 31.
Aaron Judge is not expected to play in Wild Card series against Red Sox due to calf injury
Still, without Judge, the Yankees' offense wasn't as potent as fans have gotten used to. New York posted a .681 OPS as a team throughout Judge's absence, the 27th-worst in the league in that time. Ben Rice was crushing home runs at a similar pace as Judge early in the season, but he cooled down in June, right after the captain's injury.
The Yankees maintained their second-place standing in the American League throughout Judge's absence, and they could be alright in the playoffs, as well. Judge is historically not a good postseason performer (at least, compared to his regular season accomplishments). He carries a .236/.346/.476 slash line, eight doubles, 17 home runs and 91 strikeouts over 65 postseason games across seven series.
Yet, Judge remains a game-changing threat every time he steps up to the plate. He's one of the most prolific home run hitters of his time and can carry the Yankees to wins with one swing of the bat, Despite his playoff history, the Red Sox are lucky to avoid him.
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