Aaron Judge Gives Injury Update, Return Timeline for MLB Playoffs Amid Calf Issue Ahead of Wild Card

New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge intends to return from his right calf strain and play for the team in Game 1 of the team's Wild Card Series next Tuesday.

"That's what the plan is," he told reporters Wednesday. "Try to get my body ready so I'm ready to go."

Manager Aaron Boone said he wasn't expecting to have Judge available for the Wild Card Round, though he struck a slightly more positive chord on Wednesday.

"I don't know [how] the next day or two unfolds," he told reporters. "We'll hopefully get healed as quickly as possible and be an option as soon as possible."

The 34-year-old previously missed around three months of the regular season with a fractured rib before returning in September, though he didn't undergo a rehabilitation assignment before that return. He then played seven games before suffering a right calf strain in his soleus muscle and was returned to the injured list, ending his regular season.

The Yankees are obviously a far less dangerous team without him in the lineup, though a potential return remains very much up in the air.

"We've done a lot of talks, but I can't control what people say," Judge said of the conversations he's had with people within the organization about the injury. "So you'll have to talk to them about that."

Judge hit .241 with 18 homers, 41 RBI and an .871 OPS in 66 games this season. As ESPN's Jorge Castillo noted, "The Yankees went 41-25 and averaged 5.12 runs with Judge in the lineup this season. Entering Wednesday, they're 49-42 and averaging 4.15 runs without him."

The Yankees are expected to face their hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the Wild Card Round. Judge is holding out hope that he can take part in the series.