Aaron Judge's return from injury looms as factor in Yankees' playoff push

Aaron Judge's return from injury is being monitored as a potential factor in the Yankees' positioning in both the AL East and Wild Card races, MLB.com reported. The outfielder faced live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium, signaling he is nearing a return to the lineup as the club enters the final stretch of the regular season.

The timing carries operational weight. The Yankees sit 81-62, holding the top Wild Card spot but trailing by four games in the AL East. Judge's absence has coincided with a stretch that included a loss in which Gerrit Cole allowed three consecutive home runs to open a game, and the club has now dropped its last contest heading into a three-game series against the Rockies.

What happened

Judge faced live pitching Monday at Yankee Stadium, per MLB.com, a step that typically precedes activation from the injured list. The report characterized his return as a factor the league is watching in the context of the Yankees' divisional and Wild Card positioning, though no activation date or formal timetable has been announced by the club.

The live batting session marks the latest milestone in Judge's progression. The Yankees have not disclosed the nature of the injury that has kept him out, nor have they provided a target date for his return to game action.

Why it matters

The Yankees are navigating the final weeks of the season with their roster in flux. Two days before Judge's live session, the club placed Trent Grisham on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain, a recurrence of an earlier 2026 injury. Manager Aaron Boone said Grisham's regular season could be in jeopardy, with no timetable set for his return. The Yankees recalled Jasson Domínguez in a corresponding move.

Judge's absence has left the lineup without its most prominent bat during a period when the club is trying to close ground in the division and secure its postseason seeding. The Yankees hold the top Wild Card position, but the AL East race remains within reach if the club can string together wins in its remaining games.

The live pitching session suggests Judge is progressing through the standard checkpoints before rejoining the active roster. Clubs typically use live batting practice to assess a player's timing, bat speed, and comfort level before clearing him for game action, though the step does not guarantee an imminent activation.

Where the club stands

The Yankees are 81-62, sitting second in the AL East and four games behind the division leader. They rank first in the Wild Card standings and are coming off a loss that snapped any momentum from earlier in the week.

The club opens a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Cam Schlittler is the probable pitcher for the opener, facing Gabriel Hughes. Will Warren is slated to start Wednesday opposite Tomoyuki Sugano, and Max Fried is scheduled for Thursday against Ryan Feltner.

The Rockies series offers the Yankees a chance to stabilize before the schedule tightens. With fewer than 20 games remaining, every series carries playoff-seeding implications, and the club's ability to close the gap in the division depends on both its own performance and the results of the team ahead of it.

What we don't know yet

The Yankees have not announced when Judge will be activated or whether he will require a rehab assignment before returning to the major-league roster. The club has not disclosed the injury that sidelined him, and no official timetable has been provided.

It is also unclear how Judge's return will affect the roster configuration. The Yankees recalled Domínguez after placing Grisham on the injured list, and the club will need to make a corresponding move when Judge is ready to be activated. Whether that move involves optioning a player, designating someone for assignment, or transferring another injured player to the 60-day IL has not been specified.

The broader question is how quickly Judge can return to form. Live pitching is a controlled environment, and the transition to game speed often reveals whether a player is fully ready. The Yankees have not indicated whether Judge will need minor-league rehab games or whether he will be activated directly to the major-league roster.

What to watch

Judge's next step will determine the timeline. If the live session went well, the club could announce a rehab assignment or an activation date in the coming days. If the Yankees opt for a rehab stint, the clock starts on a window that can last up to 20 days for position players, though clubs often bring players back sooner if they show they are ready.

The Rockies series will also test the Yankees' depth. With Grisham out and Judge still working his way back, the outfield and designated hitter spots remain in rotation. Domínguez's recall gives the club another option, but the lineup will look different than it did earlier in the season until Judge returns.

The division race remains the other variable. Four games is a manageable deficit with three weeks left, but the Yankees need to win series and hope for help from the schedule. Judge's return would give the lineup a boost at a time when the margin for error is shrinking, but the club has not yet said when that return will happen.

The Yankees' postseason positioning is secure for now, but the difference between a Wild Card berth and a division title carries weight in October. Judge's live session Monday was a step forward. The next step will tell the rest.