MVP Judge will miss Yankees' MLB playoff series against Rays
Injured New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was left off the roster for the team's American League Division Series against the Rays that starts Saturday in Tampa, Florida.
The three-time Most Valuable Player, battling a right calf strain that affects his ability to run, had vowed to do all he could to be ready for the Rays after missing the Yankees' two-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round.
New York manager Aaron Boone left the decision to the last minute on Saturday morning -- hours before game one in the best-of-five series.
Judge has battled multiple injuries this season, missing time with a broken rib before straining his calf on September 16 in a game against the Minnesota Twins.
The fact the synthetic turf at the Rays' Tropicana Field Could be harder on the injury reportedly was a factor in the decision to leave Judge off the series roster.
If the Yankees get past top-seeded division rivals Tampa Bay, Judge could return for the American League Championship Series against either the Cleveland Guardians or Chicago White Sox -- who opened their division series on Saturday.
W. Winogradow--BTZ