Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees captain, was left off the roster for the Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox after sustaining a moderate soleus muscle strain in his calf. Despite attempting to return from the injury following treatment with platelet-poor plasma injection, Judge did not recover in time to participate in the best-of-three series. This decision may have been prudent, as medical experts warn that premature return could expose him to serious cascading injuries.

Dr. Drew Burdi, a foot-and-ankle surgeon, cautioned that rushing Judge's return could transform the moderate calf strain into a severe injury requiring substantially longer recovery time. The risks include overstraining the hamstring, increased stress on the Achilles tendon, and in the worst-case scenario, an Achilles rupture—an injury that, whilst not necessarily career-ending, typically leaves athletes permanently altered in performance. Judge's absence creates a significant gap in the Yankees' lineup, though he had returned to play in seven games before the Wild Card, hitting just .174 with one home run.