Aaron Judge remains unsure for ALDS after missing Yankees’ Wild Card Series opener with right calf strain

Yankees captain Aaron Judge remains uncertain for the team’s ALDS after missing the postseason opener in New York’s Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox. Judge, who has been sidelined since Sept. 16 with a strained right calf, was not available for the first round of the Yankees’ October run, and the question now is how quickly he can transition from rehab to game-ready performance for the Division Series.

According to Yahoo Sports, Judge traveled to the Yankees’ Double-A facility in Somerset, New Jersey, for live batting practice. The trip is being framed as part of his return-to-play progression, with the goal of determining whether he can be available for later postseason games. The Yankees’ Wild Card Series outcome reduced the immediate need for a roster decision in the first round, but it has not removed the uncertainty around Judge’s availability for what comes next.

The timing is significant because the Yankees’ postseason path shifts from a one-series urgency to a longer matchup in the ALDS, where lineup consistency and late-game roles matter more as pitching matchups tighten. With Judge missing the Red Sox series, New York has had to rely on others in his absence, and his status will shape not only the batting order but also how the club balances power, defensive alignment, and late-inning strategy.

Judge’s calf strain is also a practical concern for a position player returning from a leg injury. Even when batting practice is completed successfully, teams typically look for evidence of comfort during more dynamic baseball actions, including hard stops, quick pivots, and repeated sprinting. The reported live batting practice in Somerset suggests the Yankees are testing that step of the process, but it does not, by itself, resolve whether he will be cleared for ALDS-level intensity.

The Red Sox swept the Yankees in the first postseason meeting of the two teams during this series, and the Yankees’ next postseason objective is to close the gap between regular-season rhythms and the heightened demands of playoff baseball. For the Yankees, Judge is not simply a run producer, he is also the type of middle-of-the-order anchor who can affect at-bats from the moment a pitcher sets the stance. That makes his potential return an issue that extends beyond the stat sheet.

As the Yankees work toward the ALDS, the most important development to watch is whether the calf continues to respond well as he ramps up baseball activity. The reported live batting practice indicates progress in the return plan, but Judge’s status remains described as uncertain, and the Yankees will likely treat readiness as something that must be proven under baseball conditions rather than assumed from practice activity alone.

For now, Judge’s participation in live batting practice provides a clear indicator that the rehab timeline is moving forward, even if the ultimate postseason answer has not been finalized. The next checkpoints should center on whether he can sustain the workload without flare-ups and whether the Yankees feel confident enough to include him in the Division Series plan.