The lineup shakeup
The Yankees are entering their high-stakes Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox without their biggest bat. Aaron Judge, the reigning back-to-back American League MVP, has officially been left off the roster as he continues to deal with a calf strain. He’s been out since September 16, and despite some positive signs like cage work and treadmill running, the team is playing it safe. It’s a total L for the Bronx Bombers’ depth.
A major return
While Judge is out, the vibes are looking up for Giancarlo Stanton. The veteran designated hitter is officially back on the roster after being sidelined since late April with his own calf issue. Stanton, who turns 37 in November, is a playoff machine—he’s crushed 18 home runs in 48 career postseason games. His right-handed power is lowkey the perfect weapon against the Red Sox's heavily left-handed pitching rotation.
By the numbers
- The Judge Impact: The Yankees finished the season with a .621 win percentage when Judge started, compared to .547 without him. Even during a tough 2026, he still put up an OPS+ of 140.
- Stanton’s Resume: He’s the active MLB career leader in home runs with 456. He’s looking to recapture that 2024 energy where he absolutely ate during the team’s pennant run.
Why it matters
With Judge missing the entire series, the Yankees' lineup looks thin after Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt. The team has to hope Stanton can immediately step up to replace that production, or their postseason run could be short-lived. Game 1 kicks off tonight in the Bronx.
