With the regular season nearly finished, the Red Sox are staring at a postseason path that could run straight through the Yankees. If the Rays officially clinch the AL East and Boston keeps the White Sox at arm’s length for the American League’s No. 5 seed, the setup points to a best-of-three Wild Card series in New York.
That’s why Aaron Boone’s update on Aaron Judge on Tuesday landed with real weight in Boston.
Boone said Judge, who was recently put on the 10-day injured list with a calf strain just days after returning from a significant injury, is dealing with a “moderate grade” strain. More importantly for the Yankees, Boone also made it clear the club is not expecting Judge to be ready when the postseason begins after he received a PPP injection on Monday.
“We’re planning on him not being a part of that,” Boone said, per Bryan Hoch.
Judge’s status for a possible Wild Card matchup won’t be locked in until early next week, when the Yankees would need to set their roster for the series. Even so, the direction of this thing is obvious: it looks unlikely he’ll be healthy in time.
For Boston, that changes the shape of the series. The Yankees would still have Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger in the mix as dangerous power bats, but Judge is the guy who lifts New York’s offense into a different tier. Without the three-time AL MVP, the Red Sox’s likely pitching trio of Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez and Payton Tolle would be facing a lineup that no longer carries the same one-swing threat.
Red Sox-Yankees still isn’t official, and neither is Judge’s postseason availability. But as of Tuesday, the expectation is that New York would have to host Boston without its biggest star.
In Other News...
Payton Tolle Just Gave Red Sox Fans Another Reason To Love Him
Payton Tolle had every reason to soak in the moment during Bostons postseason clinch celebrations, but the left-hander quickly turned the focus back to the work that got the Red Sox here. Speaking to reporters, he reflected on how far he has come since 2025, a season that did not match his own standards, and on the steadier, sharper version of himself the Red Sox have gotten in 2026.
The numbers back up the progress, with Tolle sitting at 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA and 166 strikeouts through 25 starts. Just as important for a team headed into October, he sounded confident about Bostons outlook, another sign that the rookie? no, the emerging starter is already thinking beyond celebration and toward what the Red Sox might still build in the playoffs. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Face A Pre-Playoff Seeding Problem At Fenway
The Red Sox have already locked up a postseason berth, but their final weekend at Fenway Park now comes with an unexpected wrinkle. Boston is set to finish the regular season with a three-game series against the Cubs, and a significant storm forecast could force the schedule into a holding pattern at exactly the wrong time.
For a team trying to line up for October, even one postponed game can create a messy finish. MLB may have to find room for makeup dates or doubleheaders, and any shuffle would come with the kind of rest-and-recovery questions clubs would rather avoid before the playoffs begin. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox-Cubs Reunion Suddenly Carries A Much More Serious Bregman Concern
Alex Bregmans latest setback has added a sobering layer to a Cubs-Reunion series that already carried plenty of intrigue for Boston fans. The former Red Sox infielder was struck in the face by a foul ball on Sept. 20, and the aftermath was serious enough to send him to the hospital with multiple facial fractures. He is not expected to need immediate surgery, but the injury has already put his availability in doubt at a critical time of year.
For the Red Sox, the timing matters because the upcoming matchup now comes with the possibility that Bregman may not be on the field at all. His status is uncertain for the postseason as well, which is a far bigger concern than one regular-season series and could ripple into the Cubs' October plans. Even without a definitive timetable, the situation has quickly shifted from a routine reunion storyline to one centered on Bregmans recovery and what it means for Chicagos stretch run. [Read more 🡒]