Aaron Judge exited the New York Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Twins in 13 innings on Wednesday afternoon with right lower leg tightness, a development that threatens to complicate the team's already narrow path to the AL East title. The three-time MVP went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts before being replaced by pinch-hitter Heliot Ramos in the sixth inning. Manager Aaron Boone said Judge reported feeling "a little something" after the first inning, though the team did not immediately diagnose the severity of the issue.
"Said he felt a little something after the first inning. Hopefully it's something we were able to catch," Boone told reporters after the game. "He'll get treatment and stuff. Obviously he's already had a lot of treatment. Treatment tomorrow, then we'll see what we got."
The injury is particularly concerning given Judge's recent history. He missed all of June, July, and August with a fractured top right rib before returning to the Yankees without a minor-league rehab assignment on Sept. 8. He hit his first home run since the return on Monday night, a prodigious shot to the upper deck down the left-field line, then sat out Tuesday as a planned rest day before exiting Wednesday's game early.
Judge said he did not expect to undergo further testing on his leg, though he acknowledged the uncertainty of the situation. "This just happened. I have no idea, so I've got no answer for you," Judge told reporters, including the New York Daily News, when asked if he could have tests. "But I'd say probably not."
The Yankees have already clinched a postseason berth and are assured of being no worse than the second wild-card team, but the loss dropped them to 88-64 and four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, pending the outcome of Tampa's game Wednesday night. The two teams have a four-game series next week, the only reason New York remains in the division race, though it is a long shot. The Rays lead the season series 6-4, meaning one win in those four games will give Tampa the tiebreaker and effectively add another game to the division lead.
To put numbers on it: If the Rays go 6-6 in their final 12 games, the Yankees must go 9-1 in their final 10 games to win the AL East if they sweep those four games and get the tiebreaker, and 10-0 if they don't. Assuming they don't win the AL East, the Yankees are likely to host the No. 5 seed, currently the Boston Red Sox, at Yankee Stadium in the Wild Card Series.
"Obviously he's a key figure to what we're doing," Boone added. "Get it treated and knock it out, and be a factor at some point."
The Yankees are also without center fielder Trent Grisham, who has a hamstring strain and may not return during the regular season. His status for the postseason is up in the air. Ramos would step in as the everyday right fielder if Judge has to miss time. He came over at the trade deadline and played the outfield every day until Judge returned, then shifted into a platoon role.
The Red Sox have a very left-handed-heavy pitching staff. Judge's righty presence would be sorely missed if he's unavailable for a potential Wild Card Series.
So far this season, in 66 games, Judge is hitting .241/.360/.511 with 18 home runs and 41 RBI. He won the last two American League MVPs and had taken three of the previous four. The Yankees need a fully functional Judge in order to be a dangerous playoff team.
The Yankees are 41-25 with Judge in the lineup and 47-39 without him.
According to CBS.