The Yankees could have used some more offense in Wednesday night’s extra inning loss, managing just three runs while stranding 12 men on base, but one of the team’s best bats was unavailable, regardless of the stakes.
Aaron Boone told reporters after Wednesday’s loss to the Orioles that Aaron Judge wasn’t available as a pinch hitter due to his sore left side, which cause him to be left out of the starting lineup after collecting three hits, including a home run, the night before.
“I was staying away from him [Wednesday],” Boone said.
Judge was pulled early from Monday’s win over the O’s, and Boone said he was just getting the slugger “off his feet” due to a cozy 7-run lead. Judge was an offensive force the following night, but suddenly, after starting the season with an OPS over 1.000, his health has once again been brought to the forefront.
“I really didn’t have any conversations during the game about it, so I’ll see what’s kind of gone on over the last few hours, but I was going to stay away from him,” Boone said.
Boone said prior to Wednesday’s game that Judge was given Wednesday off so he would have two straight days to rest (Thursday is an off-day) before the team heads to Tampa for a weekend series with the Rays. But now, Boone isn’t ready to say whether or not Judge will be ready for the first road series of the season.
“Yeah, that’s too early,” Boone said.
Judge missed multiple days at the end of spring, which raised concerns in Yankees Universe, but Boone diffused those by revealing that Judge was dealing with an illness, and he was in the lineup for Opening Day. But concerns are certainly back now, as the oft-injured All-Star is dealing with another ailment just a week into the regular season.
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