Aaron Judge Hits the IL Again Just Days After Returning

Aaron Judge is heading back to the Injured List with a calf issue, proving once again that the New York Yankees cannot have nice things for more than a week at a time.

MLB insider Jon Heyman reported Friday that the Yankees captain is officially shelved but can be activated for Game 162. That leaves New York navigating the final crucial stretch of the season without the guy who is supposed to carry the offense.

"Jon Heyman reported Judge can be activated for game 162."

The math here is bleak. Judge just returned on September 8 from a brutal 60-day IL stint for a right rib stress fracture. He managed to play exactly five games, going 4-for-17 at the plate, before getting pulled for a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.

Relying on Judge's health right now is like buying a luxury sports car and only being allowed to drive it to the end of the driveway before the check engine light starts flashing. You know the horsepower is there, but it spends all its time in the shop.

This is a nightmare scenario for anyone holding Yankees futures or banking on Judge props down the stretch. The offense was already sputtering during his summer absence, and now they have to figure out how to manufacture runs in a tight pennant race without their biggest bat.

New York heads to Arizona this weekend to face the Arizona Diamondbacks. They have to survive the rest of September on sheer willpower and hope that Game 162 activation timeline is a promise, not just a suggestion.