New York Yankees Manager Makes Honest Aaron Judge Statement Before Red Sox Series

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 12: Manager Aaron Boone #17 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees look on during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 12, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees will be without star right fielder Aaron Judge during the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Judge is currently injured with a right calf strain.

New York Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Makes Honest Aaron Judge Statement Before Red Sox Series

From MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch on X: Aaron Judge, Aaron Boone and a couple of the trainers met last night after the live BP session to discuss Judge’s health situation. “We just felt like he’s not quite there yet,” Boone said.

Judge missed most of the season with a right rib stress fracture, landing him on the IL on June 2. New York activated him on Sept. 7.

Before being placed on the IL in June, Judge hit .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBI over 59 games this season.

Judge struggled after returning from the IL in Sept., hitting just .190/.227/.333 with one home run and three RBI over six games before landing on the IL again.

Judge struggled after returning from the IL in Sept., hitting just .190/.227/.333 with one home run and three RBI over six games before landing on the IL again.

Since making his MLB debut in 2016, Judge has slashed 291/.410/.610 with 386 home runs and 871 RBI.

Judge has won three AL MVP Awards throughout his career.

Looking at Yankees-Red Sox Wild Card Series

Here is the schedule for the Red Sox-Yankees Wild Card Series:

• Game 1: Tuesday @ 8:00 p.m. EDT
• Game 2: Wednesday @ 8:00 p.m. EDT
• Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday @ 8:00 p.m. EDT

Here is the Yankees’ lineup for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series:

1. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
2. Ben Rice DH
3. Heliot Ramos RF
4. Cody Bellinger LF
5. George Lombard Jr. SS
6. Amed Rosario 3B
7. Anthony Volpe 2B
8. Spencer Jones CF
9. Austin Wells C

Here is the Red Sox’s lineup:

1. Roman Anthony DH
2. Adley Rutschman C
3. Willson Contreras 1B
4. Wilyer Abreau RF
5. Ceddane Rafaela CF
6. Nick Sogard 2B
7. Jarren Duran LF
8. Trevor Story SS
9. Caleb Durbin 3B

Right-hander Cam Schlittler will start for New York in Game 1. Left-hander Payton Tolle will start for Boston.

The Yankees finished the regular season with a 93-68 record. They are the top AL Wild Card team.

The Red Sox finished the season with an 87-75 record. They are the second AL Wild Card team.

The winner of the series between the Yankees and Red Sox will play the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series. The Rays are the No. 1 seed in the AL with a 98-64 regular-season record.