Aaron Judge He still hasn't ruled out being next to the Yankees when the postseason begins. The New York captain maintains the goal of being available for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card series, scheduled for September 29 at Yankee Stadium.

Judge's position contrasts with the caution that the team has shown in recent days. The Yankees are preparing for the possibility of starting the Wild Card without their main hitter, but the door to an early return is not yet completely closed.

Judge continues to work on the recovery of a right calf strain that brought him back to the injured list shortly after he returned from a prolonged absence from a rib injury.

Aaron Judge maintains the intention of returning for the Wild Card

Judge made it clear that his goal is still preparing his body to try to be ready from the start of the postseason. For now, that represents a goal and not a confirmed return date.

The gardener was placed on the 10-day retroactive injury list as of September 17. The injury came just days after his return to the lineup, which again interrupted a season marked by physical problems.

As part of the treatment, Judge received a platelet-poor plasma injection into the right calf and will have a limited load of activities over several days while the medical staff evaluates its evolution.

The Yankees maintain a more cautious posture

Aaron Boone has avoided ensuring that Judge will be available for the first round. The leader described the injury as a moderate degree strain and explained that, for the moment, the club is organizing its plans under the possibility of playing the wild card without it.

That does not mean that the Yankees have completely dismissed their presence. The evolution in the next few days will be decisive and, if Judge shows that he can play without compromising his recovery, New York will evaluate the possibility of including it.

The main concern is related to the location of the injury. Judge previously explained that the discomfort lies in the soleus muscle of the right calf, an area that has an important participation both when running and when performing the movement of the batting.

Judge faces a race against time

The calendar leaves very little margin. Due to the retroactive date of his entry to the injured list, Judge could be activated as early as the last regular season game, scheduled for September 27.

The Wild Card series will start just two days later, on September 29, so the captain would have a reduced window to show that he is in a position to return to the lineup.

The situation is even more significant because Judge had barely played seven games since his return from a stress fracture in a right rib. In that brief period he hit 23-4 with a home run before suffering the new setback.

The presence of Judge would be an important piece for October

Judge finished his share so far with a .241 average, .360 on-basing percentage and .511 slugging line, plus 18 home runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games.

The Yankees have had to get used to competing for long periods without their captain this season, but regaining their October bat would represent an important addition to an offensive that is preparing to face matches where each turn can change a series.

For now there is no guarantee that Judge will be on the lineup for the first game. What is clear is that the captain has not given up that possibility and will continue to work for the next few days with the intention of being available when the postseason begins.