The New York Yankees ultimately didn't need hurting slugger and captain Aaron Judge to be available for even a pinch-hit spot for the best-of-three American League wild-card series against the rival Boston Red Sox, as the Yankees notched back-to-back wins without Judge to send the Red Sox to their offseason. 

That said, a Tampa Bay Rays team that finished the regular season atop the overall AL standings with a record of 98-64 will likely put up more of a fight in the upcoming AL division series. 

What Aaron Judge said about possibly playing in the ALDS

Per Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Judge was asked about his status for the ALDS as he and his Yankees teammates celebrated Wednesday's 9-2 win over Boston that ensured the Bronx Bombers would continue their postseason journey.

"Saturday’s a long ways away," Judge said about Game 1 of the ALDS. "But I’m doing everything I can, all morning, night, during the game, everything to prepare myself to be ready to go. Yeah, I want to be in there. But we’ll see what happens." 

As had been expected, the Yankees kept Judge off the roster for the wild-card series against the Red Sox as he continued his recovery from the "moderate" calf strain he suffered on Sept. 16. The muscle that Judge injured is "part of the same kinetic chain as the Achilles tendon," and it's assumed that people within the Yankees fear that the three-time AL Most Valuable Player could suffer a serious Achilles injury that could keep him out for all of 2027 if he returns to in-game action too soon this fall. 

Aaron Judge will "continue to get ready" to possibly play in the ALDS

Without Judge, the Yankees outscored the Red Sox to the tune of 18-2 over two straight wins. Nevertheless, he clearly wants to contribute both as an offensive weapon and in the outfield against the Rays. 

"We just finished the wild-card [series]. We’ll get into that as we get closer," Judge added amid the Yankees' post-win celebration on Wednesday night. "I got nothing for you on that yet, but my job is to continue to get ready. That’s what I’ve been doing every day."

It's unclear when Yankees manager Aaron Boone will confirm Judge's status for the ALDS, which will get underway when the Rays host the Yankees on Saturday evening (first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET).