New Aaron Judge Rumors, Updated Injury Status for Yankees vs. Rays in 2026 MLB Playoffs

The Tampa Bay Rays may have to wait until closer to Saturday's first pitch of the ALDS to find out if Game 1 starter Drew Rasmussen will be facing Aaron Judge at the plate, ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Friday.

As of Friday morning, Passan reported Judge's status "remains up in the air and is unlikely to be decided until shortly before the series begins Saturday, sources familiar with the deliberations told ESPN."

"Some in the organization want him to play," Passan reported. "Others, wary of him further aggravating the injury and imperiling him for the remainder of the postseason, would prefer to wait another week."

Passan noted the decision is also impacted by the fact Judge could be returning as a designated hitter. Notably, DH Luis García Jr. just helped the Yankees close out their Wild Card sweep of the Boston Red Sox by opening Game 2 scoring with a home run.

Judge initially said he hoped to return for the beginning of the postseason before he was left off the Yankees' Wild Card roster amid his recovery from the right calf strain that resulted in a trip to the injured list on Sept. 19.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said at the time the decision was made because the club didn't feel Judge was "all the way back."

Judge has appeared in just seven games for the Yankees since he was shut down with a right rib injury May 31. Following his return Sept. 8, he was held to a batting average of .174 with one home run in 24 plate appearances before suffering the calf injury.

The Yankees will hope giving Judge more time to recover from his latest injury will result in a more productive return from the slugger. Should he sit out the divisional series, he would gain an additional week to recover in the event the Yankees advance to the ALCS.

Gerrit Cole will start Game 1 for the Yankees when the ALDS begins Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET in St. Petersburg. He will be facing a more rested lineup given that the Rays sat out the Wild Card round after clinching the AL's top seed.