Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who was back in action for the first time since falling off the harmed list because of a right calf strain, may be headed back to the IL.
The Yankees expected to actuate Judge from the 10-day harmed list on Tuesday, however their first game in Atlanta was cut short and rescheduled as a major aspect of Wednesday’s doubleheader. The Braves won the two matches, 5-1 in Game 1 and 2-1 in the nightcap.
Judge, playing in his first game since Aug. 11, was the beginning right defender in Game 2 and grounded out in his first at-bat against starter Max Fried. Judge got a leadoff hit in the fourth inning however evidently reinjured his leg rushing to a respectable halfway point when Luke Voit hit into a 5-4-3 twofold play. Brett Gardner came in as a protective sub for Judge in the 6th inning.
“He tightened up again in that calf area running to second base, so we’ll see where he’s at,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Doesn’t seem to be overly serious but enough that we needed to get him out of there. [It’s] frustrating, no question. Obviously, he’s very frustrated, but we’ll see where we’re at as we get through it tonight and where he’s at feeling tomorrow.”
Boone said that it’s “possible” Judge could be set out toward another IL spell, yet included, “I think we’ll have a better feel later tonight and into tomorrow exactly where he’s at.”
Judge was required to fall off the IL when he was qualified this previous Saturday, however the Yankees’ planned three-game end of the week arrangement at Citi Field was deferred on the grounds that two individuals from the Mets’ association tried positive for COVID-19.
The 2017 American League Rookie of the Year has endured a progression of wounds the previous two years. In 2018, Judge endured a chip crack of the correct wrist subsequent to being hit by a pitch, which restricted him to 112 games. A year ago, Judge was restricted to 102 games generally as a result of a stressed left diagonal.
Judge was essentially restricted during spring preparing in February due to a pressure crack in his first right rib, and an ensuing penetrated lung, credited to a plunging get endeavor last September. The correct defender didn’t partake in full exercises and didn’t play any games before MLB’s shutdown mid-March.
The postponed opening of the 2020 season wound up being useful to the correct defender, permitting him additional opportunity to recuperate; Judge would have missed half a month toward the beginning of the period if there had not been a 3-month rest. Prior to going on the IL, Judge was headed toward sizzling beginning with nine homers and 20 RBIs, batting .290 with a .758 slugging rate and a 1.101 OPS in 17 games.
The Yankees have lamented the series of wounds they have had since the start of this abbreviated 2020 season. Three of their best players – shortstop Gleyber Torres, outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring strain) and infielder D.J. LeMahieu (left thumb sprain) – are on the 10-day IL.
New York came into Wednesday’s doubleheader playing their staying 35 games in a range of 33 days. Judge had been on the IL since Aug. 11 when a MRI indicated what Boone had called an “Evaluation 1 or even lower” right calf strain.
When asked whether Judge would go through another MRI, Boone said the club would pause and rethink on Thursday, the first of just two staying booked off days for the Yankees. The Yankees have lost five straight games, their longest streak since Aug. 1-5, 2018.
