Aaron Judge wants to play. The New York Yankees captain is not taking a back seat this postseason. He is attempting to secure a spot in the starting lineup for the impending Wild Card Series versus the Boston Red Sox. Judge has been out since September 16 with a strained right calf. Now, he is taking batting practice on the field to prove he is ready. He knows the clock is ticking on his career.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains cautious about the slugger’s health. The team has a lot of roster decisions to make before the series starts. But Judge is making his case loud and clear. He says he has been working hard to convince the staff. He is not worried about the risk of re-injury. He just wants to be part of the team when the games begin.
Judge Makes His Case
The 34-year-old star is feeling the pressure of time. He has played in the big leagues for 11 seasons without a World Series title. He knows his window to win is getting shorter. Judge told reporters that he has been working on an anti-gravity treadmill. He has not run the bases yet, but he is hitting. He feels strong enough to take on the Red Sox.
“I’ve been doing a lot of convincing, I feel like, so I’m going to keep doing that,” he said. Judge knows he might be limited to the designated hitter role. He would rather play the field to help the team.
His injury history is a concern for anyone watching. He missed time with a fractured rib earlier this year. He only played in seven games before hitting the calf strain. He had a platelet-poor plasma injection to speed up his recovery. Boone noted, “He’s making progress. We’ll continue to see where he’s at.” The manager is not ready to say yes or no yet.
The Red Sox Pitching Attack
The Red Sox have a plan to stop the Yankees offense. They announced their starting rotation for the series on Monday. Manager Chad Tracy named Payton Tolle to start Game 1. The 23-year-old rookie has been on fire in the second half of the season. He has a 3.03 ERA and 171 strikeouts this year.
Tolle has been great against the Yankees before. He posted a 0.69 ERA in two starts against New York this year. He retired the first 16 batters in one game. Sonny Gray will start Game 2. He has a 2.72 ERA in his first year with Boston. Ranger Suarez is set for Game 3. He brings a lot of playoff experience from his time in Philadelphia.
The Red Sox offense has some questions to answer. But their pitching staff looks strong enough to keep games close. The market expects a low-scoring affair. FanDuel has the total set at under 6.5 runs. Both Tolle and the Yankees’ starter, Cam Schlittler, have high strikeout potential. Schlittler has a 0.56 ERA against the Red Sox in his career.
If Judge plays, the Yankees lineup becomes much scarier. He is the biggest power threat on the team. Betting sites have him at +300 to hit a home run in Game 1. That is the shortest price on the board for any player to go deep. If he sits, the Yankees will need someone else to step up. Heliot Ramos might get more chances to hit left-handed pitchers.
The risk is real. Judge admitted, “Guys take risks every single day. I am aware that many players here are injured and managing various issues. He understands that playing hurt could cost him later. But he also knows that missing a playoff series is a chance he does not want to take. He remarked, “The most crucial aspect is simply realizing how brief my tenure is.” My time as a Yankee playing baseball is a very brief window.
This series could define the season for both teams. The Red Sox lost to the Yankees in the playoffs last year. They want to turn the tables at Yankee Stadium. Game 1 kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
