Judge misses 3rd straight game as Yankees seek clarity on injury

NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge was out of the starting lineup for a third consecutive game on Thursday as the Yankees' medical staff continues to seek a clear read on what is ailing the club's captain.

Having experienced discomfort over the past several weeks that was initially diagnosed as a bone bruise near his right rib cage, Judge underwent an MRI on Tuesday at the direction of a New York-based specialist.

He was sent for additional testing on Wednesday, including X-rays and a CT scan. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that edema, or swelling, has complicated efforts to identify the source of the issue.

“They want to get as many specific images as they can to try and see exactly what we have,” Boone said. “We’re waiting on the doctor to read those, and hopefully we’ll have a final diagnosis here [on Thursday].”

The need for additional imaging suggests the issue may be more significant than Boone initially indicated on Tuesday, when Judge missed his first game of the season after reporting discomfort during the club’s series against the Athletics in West Sacramento.

Max Schuemann was penciled in as the starter in right field, batting ninth, for the Yankees' finale against the Guardians in the Bronx. Playing without Judge Wednesday, the Yankees were handed a 5-4 loss, their third defeat in four games.

“Aaron obviously means a lot to us,” Gerrit Cole said. “He just plays great baseball all the time and brings great energy. It’s tough when guys get hurt, but unfortunately, it’s part of the game. As a team, you’ve got to figure out how to step up in those situations, and so that’s what we’ll do.”

According to Boone, Judge has been managing discomfort in his right shoulder for “the last couple of weeks,” though he only feels it when swinging. Judge has not spoken to reporters since the club’s series in West Sacramento.

“He describes that he’s feeling a little bit better,” Boone said. “He’s been treating it and started some medicine. But at the same time, we’re all waiting on -- what is it, what’s the course of action? That’s kind of where we all are.”

Boone said Judge could not identify a specific play when the discomfort began.

Since May 11, Judge is 14-for-68 (.206) with one home run, eight RBIs and 19 strikeouts. Overall, he is slashing .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs in 59 games.

In 2019, Judge endured a significant issue with his right rib cage. He sustained a stress fracture of his right first rib and a partially collapsed lung while attempting a diving catch in a September 2019 game.

Judge played through that injury into the 2019 postseason, but had the pandemic-shortened ‘20 season started on time, he would have been on the injured list until June.

The Yankees are not sure if Judge will ultimately land on the injured list, but as of Thursday morning, they also weren’t ruling it out.

“We’re hoping there’s that chance,” Boone said.

José Caballero started in right field on Tuesday and Wednesday in place of the 34-year-old Judge, who has won three of the American League’s past four Most Valuable Player Awards (2022, ’24, ’25).