The Yankees are set to close out a star-studded series with the Dodgers on "Sunday Night Baseball," but their brightest star won't be in the lineup.
Reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge was held out a day after colliding with the outfield wall at Dodger Stadium to make a highlight-reel catch. Judge was able to stay in the game following the grab, but his day off on Sunday isn't just for rest.
Judge has carried over his torrid pace from last season, batting .291 with an AL-leading 19 home runs and an MLB-best 1.078 OPS through 49 games in 2023. He homered in Saturday night's Yankees win before making the catch that left him banged up.
MORE: Timeline of Aaron Judge's injury history
Here are the latest updates on Judge's condition and status going forward.
Aaron Judge injury update
Judge is dealing with a sore right foot after banging it into the outfield wall on Saturday, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Boone said it's a toe issue for Judge but added that he doesn't believe it's a situation that requires an injured list stint at this time.
Aaron Boone said Aaron Judge banged his right foot into the fence when he made his catch last night. Feeling sore
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) June 4, 2023
The Yankees will monitor Judge over the next few days, according to Boone, who didn't rule out using the slugger as a pinch hitter on Sunday but also wouldn't commit to him as an option off the bench. Judge did not make an appearance in the Yankees' win.
Aaron Boone doesn't think Aaron Judge's "pretty sore" right foot is an IL situation at this point. #Yankees will monitor him the next few days.
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) June 4, 2023
Boone said he hopes the #Dodgers and MLB look at making that gate area safer. Boone specifically suggested padding the concrete step.
New York has an off-day on Monday, so it won't be until Tuesday against the White Sox that Judge could make his return to the lineup.
Once Judge returns from Los Angeles, he will be headed for further testing before the team's next course of action is determined.
Aaron Judge (R big toe) expects to have X-rays and/or an MRI when the team returns to New York.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) June 5, 2023
Judge briefly missed time earlier this season with a hip injury that sent him to the IL. The Yankees are 6-6 with Judge out of the lineup this season and 30-19 with him in it, so any absence lasting beyond Sunday would be a significant blow to a New York club that just saw Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson return from the IL.
