The New York Yankees officially announced their 26-man roster for the American League Wild Card series. They left captain and outfielder Aaron Judge off the active lineup ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Judge continues to recover from a right calf strain sustained on September 16. This injury rules him out for the opening playoff series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
The decision followed a final evaluation during a Monday afternoon workout in the Bronx. During the session, Judge took light batting practice and faced simulated pitching in his first formal outing since going on the injured list. Despite the captain’s late push to make the active roster, club officials decided to exercise caution rather than risk further injury.
Manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees medical staff reviewed the 6-foot-7 slugger’s progress. They noted that while he participated in live batting practice, he had not yet fully progressed to running the bases at full speed. Judge previously expressed mild public disagreement with the team’s characterization of his injury as a moderate strain, maintaining an aggressive rehabilitation schedule to expedite his return.
If the Yankees advance past the best-of-three series against Boston, Judge could rejoin the active squad for the American League Division Series. In his absence, New York will deploy an outfield mix featuring Cody Bellinger, Heliot Ramos, and rookie Spencer Jones. Ben Rice will handle designated hitter duties.
While Judge was excluded, the Yankees welcomed back two notable bats off the injured list. Slugger Giancarlo Stanton returns to the active postseason mix after missing an extended stretch due to calf injuries that limited him to just 24 regular-season games. Outfielder Trent Grisham also earned a spot on the roster, returning from a hamstring strain he suffered during the first week of September.
The three-game Wild Card matchup opens Tuesday night in the Bronx. It features a pitching matchup between Cam Schlittler for the Yankees and Payton Tolle for the Red Sox. Game 2 is slated for Wednesday with Max Fried facing Sonny Gray. A potential decisive Game 3 on Thursday features Gerrit Cole and Ranger Suárez.
Yankees AL Wild Card Roster Overview
The Yankees opted to carry 10 pitchers and 16 position players for the opening round against Boston. This breakdown gives the coaching staff tactical flexibility to pinch-hit or alter defensive alignments against the Red Sox’s left-handed pitching depth.
- Outfield Mix: Cody Bellinger, Heliot Ramos, Spencer Jones, and Trent Grisham.
- Designated Hitter / Bench: Ben Rice, Giancarlo Stanton, and utilityman Amed Rosario.
- Key Pitching Matchups: Cam Schlittler (Game 1), Max Fried (Game 2), and Gerrit Cole (Game 3 if necessary).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Aaron Judge left off the Yankees Wild Card roster?
Aaron Judge was excluded from the roster because he is still recovering from a right calf strain suffered on September 16. Team officials chose to exercise caution following a Monday workout rather than rush him back.
When can Aaron Judge return to play for the Yankees?
If the Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card series, Judge will have an opportunity to return to the active lineup for the upcoming American League Division Series.
Who is returning from the injured list for the Yankees?
Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham both made the Wild Card roster directly off the injured list, providing the Yankees with additional right-handed power and outfield depth.
Who are the projected starting pitchers for the Wild Card series?
The Yankees lined up Cam Schlittler for Game 1, Max Fried for Game 2, and Gerrit Cole for a potential Game 3.
