Judge left off Yankees' ALDS roster vs. Rays

The New York Yankees left Aaron Judge off their 26-man roster for the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Saturday.

Judge missed New York's wild-card series versus the Boston Red Sox due to a right calf strain sustained Sept. 16.

The Yankees captain played just 66 regular-season games this year, primarily because of an early-season rib injury. The three-time AL MVP hit .241 with 18 home runs, 41 RBIs, and an .871 OPS.

"I'm doing everything I can, all morning, night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go," Judge said after the Yankees' 9-2 win on Wednesday. "I want to be in there. So we'll see what happens."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said New York considered rostering Judge as an exclusive pinch-hitter in Games 1 and 2 but decided it was better for both the player and the team in the long term for him to continue rehabbing, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.

The 34-year-old has appeared in only seven MLB games since May 31, all in September. Judge hit .174 with one homer and three RBIs during that span before being sidelined with a right calf strain.

Giancarlo Stanton, meanwhile, was once again included on the Yankees' roster despite last playing on April 24 due to multiple calf injuries. The 36-year-old was available off the bench during the wild-card series but didn't get an at-bat during New York's sweep of the Red Sox. If Stanton appears in the division series, it'll be solely as a pinch-hitter, Boone said, per Hoch.

The Yankees made only one change to their playoff roster for the ALDS, activating left-hander Ryan Weathers while dropping utility player Amed Rosario. Weathers made 25 starts for New York this year but hasn't pitched since August because of a flexor strain.

Game 1 is Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field, with Gerrit Cole starting on the mound for New York. He posted a 3.61 ERA, 3.93 FIP, and a 9.3 K/9 in 22 regular-season starts.

Tampa Bay will counter with Drew Rasmussen, who authored a 2.67 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and a 9.1 K/9 over his 30 outings.