As the New York Yankees gear up for a crucial American League Division Series matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays, all attention is on superstar slugger Aaron Judge. He recently participated in batting practice on Friday evening, showcasing his skills in the cage, and this comes as the team evaluates its final playoff roster following a Wild Card sweep over the Boston Red Sox.

While Judge’s pre-game swings offered a glimmer of hope for fans eager to see the three-time MVP back in action, the front office faced a difficult medical decision. Reports from Jon Heyman on X confirmed that Giancarlo Stanton made the Yankees' roster for the series against the Rays, while Aaron Judge ultimately did not.

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Heyman further highlighted the medical reasoning behind this cautious decision, explaining that moderate calf strains typically require a recovery period of four to six weeks. Since Judge has only been sidelined for two weeks and three days, this quick timeline influenced the team's choice. MLB analyst Ken Rosenthal expressed similar concerns on the Foul Territory podcast, questioning whether placing an unprepared slugger in the batter's box for intimidation purposes would genuinely help the club against Tampa Bay's top-tier pitching staff.

Without their captain on the active roster, the Yankees will need to depend on their depth to set the tone in Game 1.