Aaron Judge was left off the New York Yankees' 26-man roster for the AL Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced.
The Yankees captain missed the AL Wild Card Series versus the Boston Red Sox due to a right calf strain sustained Sept. 16.
Our 26 for the ALDS. #RepBX | #Postseason pic.twitter.com/8Y5ZknJmeg
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 3, 2026
Judge played 66 regular-season games while struggling with a rib injury. The three-time AL MVP hit .241 with 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, and an .871 OPS.
"I'm doing everything I can, all morning, night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go," Judge said after the Yankees' 9-2 win on Wednesday. "So I want to be in there. So we'll see what happens."
The 34-year-old has appeared in only seven MLB games since May 31, all coming in September. Judge hit .174 with one homer and three RBIs during that span before being sidelined with a right calf strain.
Giancarlo Stanton was included on the Yankees' ALDS roster. The slugger was active for the AL Wild Card Series despite having last played April 24 due to multiple calf injuries. The 36-year-old was available off the bench but didn't play in the series.
Game 1 is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field. Gerrit Cole is on the mound for New York, who had a 3.61 ERA, 3.93 FIP, and a 9.3 K/9 in 22 starts in the regular season. Drew Rasmussen starts for Tampa Bay. In 30 starts, he authored a 2.67 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and a 9.1 K/9.
