'No Chance,' MLB Exec Dismisses Yankees' World Series Hopes if Aaron Judge Can't Return from Injury

The New York Yankees are facing an uphill battle in the playoffs without star slugger Aaron Judge, and some around the majors no longer consider them World Series contenders.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo spoke to a front office executive who said that the Yankees have "no chance" of making a World Series run without Judge, who is sidelined with a right calf strain.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone previously said that he doesn't expect to have Judge back in the lineup for the wild-card round of the playoffs, which begins on Tuesday. However, the three-time AL MVP told reporters on Wednesday that he intends to return for the start of the postseason.

Still, the Yankees are facing a tough road in the playoffs, as they will go up against the archrival Boston Red Sox in the wild-card round, with a showdown against the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS looming after that. Castillo noted that the Rays are "reminiscent of the [Toronto] Blue Jays club that gave the Yankees trouble last year."

While there seems to be pessimism about the Yankees' chances of making it to the World Series, Castillo spoke to another exec who said he "believes it's possible behind the pitching staff, though the executive added that the bullpen is seemingly running on fumes down the stretch."

The Yankees will face the Rays on Thursday night before closing out the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.