Crochet makes Red Sox playoff roster, Judge not on Yankees roster
Yankees Leave Captain Judge Out of Wild‑Card Roster; Stanton and Grisham Included
New York, Oct. 1 — In a move that underscores the depth of its injury list, the New York Yankees have omitted their captain, Aaron Judge, from the 26‑man roster for the American‑League Wild‑Card Series against the Boston Red Sox. The decision, announced on Monday, will take effect for the Tuesday night opener.
Judge, who has been sidelined since a strained right calf on September 16, made a last‑ditch effort to convince manager Aaron Boone and the team's medical staff that he was ready to return. The 34‑year‑old took part in live batting practice on the field Monday, but the Yankees ultimately decided to keep him on the 10‑day injured list.
The roster also carries outfielder Giancarlo Stanton and center fielder Trent Grisham, both of whom are still on the injured list. Stanton has been out since April 24 with strained calf muscles in both legs, while Grisham has been sidelined since September 4 after a right hamstring strain.
Judge’s injury history over the past season is extensive. He underwent a platelet‑poor plasma injection on September 21 and had previously missed a lengthy stretch from May 31 through September 8 due to a fractured rib, playing only seven games before the most recent calf problem.
On the Red Sox side, left‑hander Garrett Crochet will be available in the bullpen for the series. The two‑time All‑Star, who posted a 7 2/3‑inning, 1‑run performance in last season’s Wild‑Card opener against the Yankees, has not pitched since April 25 because of left shoulder inflammation. Manager Chad Tracy noted, “He’s worked very hard to get everything back strong the way it needs to be, but we’re still going to be evaluating him daily to see where he’s at.”
The Yankees’ decision leaves the team without its captain and one of the league’s most potent hitters as it faces a Red Sox squad that has shown a knack for stepping up in postseason play. Whether the absence of Judge will tilt the balance remains to be seen, but both teams are clearly looking to weather their injury storms while preparing for a winner‑takes‑all showdown.
