Today on Pinstripe Alley

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 18: Paul Goldschmidt #48 of the New York Yankees warms up on deck during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 18, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images Friday did not start off great for the

What is the story about?

Friday did not start off great for the Yankees, as news broke that Aaron Judge would indeed be going on the IL for a calf strain he suffered in the middle of Wednesday’s finale against the Twins. Judge was pulled from that game in the sixth inning and at the time it was unclear if he would need just a couple days off or if it was something more, but the team later got confirmation and will now be unable to activate their superstar until game No. 162 against the Orioles. With no minor league rehab

available from that point and Judge’s immediate return without one following a lengthy layoff perhaps being the cause of said calf strain, it leaves a lot of doubt as to whether he’ll be able to contribute in the postseason. The Yankees will face a tall task going far without their captain, but to be fair to the rest of the team they’ve gotten themselves here largely without him this year.

The team at least responded to the news by immediately putting up a five-spot on the Diamondbacks to open up their latest series en route to a victory, a much-needed one as the end of the regular season draws ever closer. Before they go for the series victory tonight, we’ve got some things prepared starting with Peter going over the Rivalry Roundup featuring a critical Tampa loss to Boston giving a bit of room for the Yankees to inch closer ahead of their bout in the Bronx. Nick then shows some love to Bob Turley on what would’ve been his 96th birthday, and John gives his thoughts on the open forums that baseball analytics have provided the sport in light of some controversy over in the NFL with the opaqueness of their data.