Aaron Judge out of Yankee lineup due to soreness in ‘lower body’

BALTIMORE — Aaron Judge was out of the starting lineup Wednesday after having been removed late in the game Tuesday with general “lower body” soreness.  Manager Aaron Boone said Judge would be available in a “big enough spot” but saw this as a way to prevent any long term issues.

“He’s doing pretty well, just getting his treatment today and would be available on a big enough spot in a pinch hit or something,” Boone said.  “Kind of considered this the last couple of days, but wanted to get through yesterday against the lefty and knew that today or tomorrow would probably be a day down for him.”

Judge’s health is one of the murkiest areas with the Yankees. Asked to pinpoint or explain “soreness” and “lower body,” Boone declined.

“No,” Boone said. “No more specific than that.”

Judge’s history of injuries that have caused him to miss significant time is long and is something that he is touchy about. Unlike with other players, like before the Yankees left on this road trip when they came out and said Gi Urshela had a tight lower back, the Yankees are vague when it comes to Judge.

Boone said Wednesday that it isn’t the player so much as the issue.

“There are multiple minor things that pop up that I don’t think it’s really necessary at times to go into it,” Boone said. “There’s times when it absolutely is clearly specific. There’s other times when it’s a little bit gray, and it’s a little bit of wear and tear. So that’s what I leave it at.”

Judge’s history with injuries — like with Giancarlo Stanton — also have the Yankees being hypervigilant with their giant sluggers. Their record number of injuries in 2019 had them revamp their performance and training departments and look to be more proactive in preventing injuries.

“I think anytime we’re probably in a 10 game to 15 game in a row kind of stretch those are the times when with our guys that are obviously running out there every day that more than likely they’re going to get a day in that stretch,” Boone said.

But with Judge, now there is another issue or issues that dictated Boone’s thinking.

“But, I think he’s been a little sore the last couple days, so just kind of trying to be out in front of something, especially when we’re kind of in a little bit of a grueling stretch, the first one of the season,” Boone said. “My hope would be that he’d be in there tomorrow. But you know, we’ll get through today and make sure he’s feeling like he needs to feel going into tomorrow, a day game.”

SANCHEZ SITS AGAIN

For the second straight day, Kyle Higashioka was in the starting lineup catching instead of Gary Sanchez. Boone had said that Higashioka had earned more playing time, but refuses to say that he has taken over for the struggling Sanchez.

“I look at it as they’re both gonna play,” Boone said. “Right now, for example, we’re in a situation where, we have a night game today, obviously a day game tomorrow, that’ll be Gary. We go home Friday night, first home game, first game of the homestand, (Gerrit Cole) will be pitching and Higgy will catch that. And then we have a day game Saturday, so Gary will likely be in for that. So that’s kind of how I map out these next few days.

“And we’ll just kind of continue to, you know, see where it takes us”

NEW GUY

Bullpen coach Mike Harkey sees the addition of Wandy Peralta, who the Yankees acquired from the Giants on Tuesday in exchange for Mike Tauchman, as a versatile arm who will fit in well.

“From a few clips that I watched the day before yesterday, this is a guy that has had some plus stuff. I think it’s going to be a great addition to our bullpen,” Harkey said. “I mean, we have a lot of guys down there that can do a lot of different things. I think what he brings to us is just someone else who can pitch in some high leverage situations and not allow us to overuse a lot of the same guys over and over.”

Boone said that Peralta was expected to arrive in Baltimore to join the Yankees Wednesday night. Because he has already received the COVID-19 vaccine, his intake into the Bombers coronavirus bubble is expected to be smooth.