Aaron Judge Gets Calf Injection as Yankees Face 2nd Straight Wild-Card Series

Q: Can a targeted plasma injection heal Aaron Judge's calf in time to save the Yankees' October dreams?

Probably not in time for the Wild Card round, though it could still help Judge return later in October if the Yankees advance. The key issue is the injury itself, not just the treatment. Boone called it a “moderate grade” strain in Judge’s soleus, a calf muscle that is important for running and hitting. Even mild calf strains often take at least two to three weeks; moderate strains commonly take longer, often in the three-to-six-week range. Judge was hurt only last week, and Boone has already said the Yankees are planning as if he will not be part of the Wild Card series. The platelet-poor plasma injection may improve the healing environment and reduce symptoms, but it is not a magic fix. Evidence for plasma-based injections in muscle injuries is mixed, and even in the best case they do not usually erase the normal biology of a calf strain in a matter of days. The fact that Judge is expected to do almost no activity for the next several days underscores that the Yankees are still in the early recovery phase. That leaves only a narrow path for Judge to “save” New York’s postseason: a surprisingly fast recovery, successful ramp-up without a setback, and a Yankees club that survives long enough to use him deeper in October. That is possible, but the more realistic expectation is that the injection improves his chances of contributing later rather than rescuing the opening round.

Q: Are the Yankees actually better off facing Boston without a struggling Aaron Judge in their postseason lineup?

No. The Yankees are not better off without Aaron Judge, even if the version they recently had was rusty. Judge’s seven-game return was poor on the surface — 4-for-23 with 13 strikeouts — but that is too small a sample to outweigh what he remains when healthy: the lineup’s best hitter and a matchup problem Boston must game-plan around. Even in an injury-shortened season, he still posted an .871 OPS with 18 homers in 66 games. A compromised Judge is a real concern; an absent Judge is usually worse. The more relevant question is not whether New York is better without him, but whether it would be better off avoiding an ineffective or physically limited Judge in an everyday role. That argument has some logic. A soleus strain can linger, affects running and hitting, and Boone has already said the Yankees are planning as if Judge will miss the Wild Card Series. If he cannot move well in the outfield or drive the ball, using him could shrink roster flexibility and create late-game problems. Still, Boston would rather face a Yankees lineup without Judge than with him. His postseason career line is uneven in batting average (.236), but the power, walks and overall .822 OPS show he still changes games. He also changes how opponents pitch to everyone around him. So the Yankees may be better off without a clearly hobbled Judge than with a non-functional one. But they are not better off without Aaron Judge, period.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 22

Aaron Judge received a platelet poor plasma injection Monday for a moderate strained right soleus, deepening uncertainty over whether the Yankees slugger can play in the postseason.
10 days on the injured list leaves Judge eligible for Sunday's regular-season finale, but manager Aaron Boone said he will do little activity in the next few days and is not expected back within a week.
Judge hurt the calf last Wednesday in Minnesota; persistent symptoms led to an MRI after he initially left the game as a precaution.
66 games into an injury-hit season, Judge is batting .241 with 18 homers and 41 RBIs after missing more than three months with a broken rib.
New York entered Tuesday 41-25 with Judge and 48-41 without him, while sitting one loss from AL East elimination and lining up another wild-card series against Boston.