The New York Yankees will start the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays without Aaron Judge.
The captain was officially left out of the 26-player ALDS roster after not recovering in time from moderate strain in the right calf soleus he suffered on September 16.
Judge went out of his way for the past few weeks to speed up his return. He participated in live batting sessions, progressively increased his activity and traveled with the team to Tampa, but the Yankees determined that he was not yet ready for the demands of a postseason series.
Aaron Judge failed to overcome the last stage of his recovery
The bat was never the only concern for the Yankees.
Judge had advanced considerably taking turns against pitchers and doing offensive work, but Running continued to be the main obstacle in his rehabilitation.
The captain had progressed from exercises on an antigravity treadmill to work on the ground, but had not yet run the bases since he suffered the injury.
That represented a major risk for a player who insists on returning as a gardener and not simply as an emerging hitter.
The Yankees finally decided that including him hoping for a possible improvement during the series was not the safest option.
Tampa artificial grass also increased the risk
Another element that was part of the evaluation was Tropicana Field.
The first two ALDS matches are played on artificial grass, a surface that can generate an additional requirement for a player who is recovering from a leg muscle injury.
Aaron Boone had recognized in recent days that this factor should also be considered before making a final decision.
With Judge still limited running, New York preferred to avoid a situation where the captain returned early and ended up exacerbating the injury.
Judge was already out of the wild card
This will be the second consecutive round of the postseason in which the Yankees will have to compete without their main offensive figure.
Judge was also not part of the Wild Card roster against Boston.
The difference is that New York responded forcefully without him.
The Yankees scored 18 runs and hit 26 hits in just two games to eliminate the Red Sox and advance to the divisional series.
Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, Luis Garcia Jr., George Lombard Jr., Spencer Jones, Austin Wells, and other members of the lineup found different ways to produce while Judge watched from the outside.
That performance does not reduce the importance of the captain, but it does show that the team can compete while waiting for its return.
The Yankees did not want to use a place of the roster in an unknown
A divisional series presents a situation different from the regular calendar.
Each of the 26 places available has enormous value and Boone needs players capable of immediately participating if the development of a match requires it.
Including Judge without certainty about when he could run or play defense would have meant taking the risk of working with a reduced roster for several matches.
The organization even evaluated the possibility that he could be prepared for the Yankee Stadium matches, initially avoiding Tampa's artificial grass, but finally decided to keep him out of the entire round.
Ryan Weathers enters the roster to reinforce the bullpen
Judge's absence was not the only change made before ALDS.
The Yankees added left-handed Ryan Weathers, who returns after recovering from a strain in the left forearm flexor.
Weathers worked as a starter during the regular season, but his role against Tampa Bay will be different.
Boone can use it from the bullpen to work one or several innings, offering another left-handed arm with the ability to generate speed and face different sectors of the Rays lineup.
Its addition also offers the leader greater depth in a series of the best of five, where the handling of the bullpen will be considerably different from the one used in the wild card.
Amed Rosario is out of the divisional series
To open the necessary roster space, New York left infielder Amed Rosario out.
The movement largely responds to the construction of the rival.
Boston featured several left-handed pitchers, which increased the value of some right hitters during the Wild Card. Tampa Bay offers a different scenario, and the Yankees chose to add another pitcher instead of maintaining the same depth of position players.
New York will start the ALDS with 11 pitchers and 15 position players.
The offensive will have to reproduce without its captain
Judge finished a season marked by injuries.
First he was out for 84 games due to a stress fracture in a right rib. He returned on September 8, but was only able to play seven games before being injured again.
In 66 regular-season games he hit .241, with a .360 on-base percentage and .511 slugging. He hit 18 home runs, produced 41 runs and finished with .871 OPS.
Even in a limited campaign, his presence continues to be able to completely modify the way a rival faces the Yankees.
But that presence will not be available against Tampa Bay.
Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger will have even more responsibility
The captain's absence keeps Ben Rice one of New York's main offensive references.
Rice comes from a great performance against Boston and also had excellent results against Tampa Bay pitching during the regular season.
Cody Bellinger will also arrive with confidence after producing four runs in the match that completed the sweep against the Red Sox.
Without Judge, the Yankees will again need a collective offensive.
They can't expect a single batter to load production for an entire series.
Gerrit Cole will have the first chance against Tampa Bay
As Judge continues to work away from the action, Gerrit Cole will be responsible for starting the divisional series from the mound.
Cole will face Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 at Tropicana Field.
The Yankees right-hander finished the regular season with a 10-9 record and a 3.61 ERA, while Rasmussen closed with a 16-5 record and a 2.67 ERA.
With Judge outside, the depth of the rotation takes on even greater importance.
New York needs Cole, Cam Schlittler, Max Fried and Carlos Rodón to keep the matches closed and reduce the pressure on an offensive that will face one of the best pitcher bodies in the American League.
Judge's season still might not be over
Staying out of ALDS doesn't necessarily mean Aaron Judge has finished his season.
If the Yankees eliminate Tampa Bay and advance to the American League Championship Series, they will be able to present a new roster for that round.
That would give the captain several additional days to continue strengthening the calf and advance in career and defense work.
But first New York will have to get there.
The Yankees will face the entire divisional series without their captain and cannot build their strategy thinking of a return that would only be possible in the next round.
The Yankees will have to do it again without Judge
The decision is already made.
After several days of evaluations, batting sessions, and conversations on different scenarios, the Yankees determined that Aaron Judge is not yet recovered enough to compete in the ALDS.
Now the attention changes completely to the terrain.
New York has already shown against Boston that he can win without his best player.
But Tampa Bay represents a different challenge: he won 98 games, conquered East of the American League and will have the local advantage.
The Yankees will have to rely again on their depth, their rotation and an offense that responded when they needed it most.
Aaron Judge will have to wait.
The ALDS starts without it.