New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge was left off the team’s Wild Card Series roster against the Boston Red Sox because of a strained right calf.

AP reported that Judge had recently taken live batting practice but was not considered ready to play. He appeared in 66 games during the 2026 season and hit .241 with 18 home runs.

Yankees adjust playoff roster

New York also made other roster decisions involving injured players as the postseason began. Boston reinstated pitcher Garrett Crochet for bullpen duty after his own stint on the injured list.

The roster decisions show how injuries can affect MLB postseason strategy, particularly in short series where every available player can change matchups.

Source: Associated Press. Published September 30, 2026.

Imran Siddiqui

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