The Boston Red Sox officially activated left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet from the 60-day injured list. They placed him on their postseason roster ahead of Tuesday night’s American League Wild Card Series opener against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, the host Yankees left injured captain Aaron Judge off their active roster for the best-of-three matchup.
To clear space for Crochet on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox moved right-hander Justin Slaten to the 60-day injured list. Crochet has been sidelined since late April due to left shoulder inflammation. He made just six starts in the regular season, finishing with a 3-3 record and a 6.30 ERA. Despite the lengthy absence, the 27-year-old lefty impressed club leadership during recent live batting practice sessions by hitting the mid-90s on the radar gun.
Red Sox Plan Bullpen Role for Crochet
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy indicated that Crochet will not immediately return to a traditional starting pitching workload. Instead, the two-time All-Star will pitch in relief roles, which range from short-inning appearances to a potential bullpen opener. Boston’s pitching staff features 12 total arms for the series, with Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray, and Ranger Suarez lined up as projected starters.
Crochet brings notable postseason pedigree to the bullpen. In the 2025 Wild Card Series against the same Yankees franchise, he started Game 1 and earned the victory. He allowed just one run and four hits with 11 strikeouts across 7 2/3 innings.
Yankees Omit Injured Aaron Judge
On the opposing side, the Yankees chose not to include Aaron Judge on their active roster. The three-time AL MVP continues to recover from a right calf strain sustained on September 16. Judge attempted a last-minute push by taking live batting practice on the field at Yankee Stadium, but manager Aaron Boone and the club’s medical staff ultimately decided he was not ready to return.
Judge’s absence deals a heavy blow to the New York lineup. The slugger was limited to just seven games following an extended absence for a fractured rib earlier in the season. However, the Yankees did include designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton, who was out since late April due to calf strains in both legs, and center fielder Trent Grisham, who recovered from a right hamstring strain.
Full Red Sox Wild Card Series Roster
The Red Sox released their complete 26-man roster for the opening round in the Bronx:
- Pitchers (12): Brayan Bello, Jake Bennett, Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Crochet, Alec Gamboa, Sonny Gray, Erik Miller, Wyatt Olds, Ranger Suarez, Payton Tolle, Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock
- Catchers (2): Adley Rutschman, Connor Wong
- Infielders (5): Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andruw Monasterio, Trevor Story
- Outfielders (5): Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Jahmai Jones, Ceddanne Rafaela
- Infielder/Outfielders (2): Nate Eaton, Nick Sogard
Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium, with subsequent games also played in the Bronx if necessary.
