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Aaron Judge sidelined for Division Series, AL East roundup
Aaron Judge is off the Yankees’ Division Series roster vs. the Rays on a no-game day in the AL East on Monday.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
With no games on the schedule in the AL East on Monday, the spotlight stayed firmly on Aaron Judge’s health and how the New York Yankees will adjust to playing their Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays without their star slugger.
New York Yankees: Judge out, Stanton steps back in
The New York Yankees (93-68) opened their Division Series without Aaron Judge. The outfielder remains on the injured list with a right calf strain and was left off the roster for the matchup against Tampa Bay, leaving a major hole in the middle of the lineup as the series continues at Tropicana Field.
On the field, the series started poorly for New York on Saturday. In Game 1 in Tampa, the Yankees were overmatched and dropped the opener, with Drew Rasmussen leading the way on the mound. One encouraging sign for New York was Giancarlo Stanton’s return: he logged his first plate appearance since April, coming off the bench as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning. The Yankees are now hoping to expand his role as the series progresses to help offset Judge’s absence.
Tampa Bay Rays: Rasmussen sets the tone
The Tampa Bay Rays (98-64) used home field in Game 1 to seize early control of the series. Rasmussen silenced the Yankees’ bats and flirted with a no-hitter, delivering the kind of dominant outing that can shape a short series. His performance has Tampa Bay in a strong position heading into the next games of the matchup.
Other AL East clubs already in offseason mode
While the Yankees and Rays occupy center stage, the rest of the AL East spent a quiet Monday. The Boston Red Sox closed the season at 87-75, ahead of the Baltimore Orioles at 79-82 and the Toronto Blue Jays at 79-83. With no games or transactions reported, those three clubs are fully into offseason mode, while the division’s focus remains on the high-stakes showdown in Tampa.