NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hopes to return from a strained right calf for the playoffs next week and Giancarlo Stanton could be back after a 5 1\/2-month absence.<\/p>\n
New York manager Aaron Boone repeated he’s not counting on Judge to play in the AL Wild Card Series opener Tuesday. Judge, sidelined since Sept. 16, said he’s trying to do all he can to be in the lineup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Bronx is a magical place in October,\u201d Judge said after Wednesday night’s 9-2 win over AL East champion Tampa Bay<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t want to miss out on that opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n Judge had a platelet-poor plasma injection Monday. He was sidelined by a fractured rib from May 31 to Sept. 8 and played in just seven games before the latest injury.<\/p>\n \u201cAny injection doesn\u2019t feel too good that day, but I feel a lot better today and we\u2019re going to keep making strides,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n A three-time AL MVP, Judge is hitting .241 with 18 homers, 41 RBIs and an .871 OPS in 66 games this season, including .174 with one homer and three RBIs since coming back from the rib injury.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are going to listen to the body and see how he heals,\u201d Boone said. \u201cIf he is in a position to do that, obviously we are going to want him. So, no, I haven\u2019t ruled anything out, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n Boone said Tuesday he wasn’t planning on having Judge available for next week’s best-of-three series, likely against Boston.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously as a player, you don\u2019t want to hear that but that\u2019s out of my control,\u201d Judge said.<\/p>\n Boone said Judge had a moderate strain.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody\u2019s `moderate’ is a little different,\u201d Judge said.<\/p>\n Stanton, trying to return from injuries to calf muscles in both legs, faced pitchers Wednesday at Double-A Somerset along with center fielder Trent Grisham, sidelined since straining his right hamstring on Sept. 4<\/a>. Both ran the bases and Stanton homered while taking six or seven at-bats.<\/p>\n \u201cPutting them on the outskirts of the conversation,\u201d Boone, bothered by a cold, said in a raspy voice.<\/p>\n Following the end of the seasons for Yankees farm teams, New York has minor leaguers working out at Somerset in nearby New Jersey.<\/p>\n Stanton hasn’t played since April 24<\/a> because of strained calf muscles in both legs after starting the season with a .256 batting average, three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games. The 36-year-old former NL MVP had 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season with New York in 2018 but has missed 500 of 1,194 games since (41.9%), through the end of this regular season.<\/p>\n His other injuries included strains of his right biceps, right knee, left hamstring (three times), left quadriceps and both calf muscles along with right ankle inflammation, left Achilles tendinitis and tendon pain in both elbows.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re looking more at a pinch-hit scenario,\u201d Boone said. \u201cWe\u2019ll see if that\u2019s even a realistic option.”<\/p>\n Stanton is owed $25 million next year in the final guaranteed season of a $325 million, 13-year contract that includes a $10 million buyout of a 2028 club option.<\/p>\n Lagrange could be brought up for major league debut<\/p>\n Carlos Lagrange, a 23-year-old right-hander who reached 100 mph with 98 pitches at Triple-A this year, threw to batters at Somerset. He was out between June 28 and Sept. 16 because of a right capsule strain.<\/p>\n Lagrange was shifted to the bullpen at the start of June.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in the conversation for something,\u201d Boone said.<\/p>\n Clarke Schmidt still out<\/p>\n Right-hander Clarke Schmidt, who returned Sept. 16 following Tommy John surgery in July 2025<\/a>, played catch but remains sidelined by right biceps cramps. New York had hoped to use him as a reliever in the postseason.<\/p>\n \u201cToday was better than yesterday,” Boone said. “If he\u2019s not a real viable option by tomorrow, then we\u2019ll probably go a different way.\u201d<\/p>\n Postseason rotation<\/p>\n Boone said Cam Schlitter will start Game 1 or 2 of the playoffs. Max Fried appears set to start whichever game Schlittler doesn’t, with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rod\u00f3n available for Game 3. <\/p>\n \u201cWhoever goes 1 or 2 can pitch 2 and 5 in the next series,\u201d Boone said.<\/p>\n Fernando Cruz throws a bullpen<\/p>\n Right-hander Fernando Cruz threw a bullpen this week and is to throw another one Thursday.<\/p>\n He hasn’t pitched in a game since Aug. 25<\/a> because of right elbow discomfort caused by a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in a really good position to be back I will say in the next couple of weeks,\u201d Cruz said.<\/p>\n He took issue with the diagnosis of his injury.<\/p>\n \u201cI had a real good inflammation, real stiffness and irritation,” he said. \u201cPeople can say it\u2019s a partial tear, but in my heart it’s not a partial tear.\u201d<\/p>\n Volpe will see time at the hot corner<\/p>\n