NEW YORK — The Yankees finally welcomed Aaron Judge back Tuesday night, but the relief of seeing their captain in right field came with another reminder of how fragile their September roster remains.
New York beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 at Yankee Stadium, with Cam Schlittler delivering seven innings of one-run ball. Ryan McMahon broke a tie with a fifth-inning double, and Heliot Ramos provided the decisive cushion with a three-run homer in the eighth.
The Yankees improved to 82-62, four games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East. They also secured their 34th consecutive winning season. Schlittler earned the victory, Gabriel Hughes took the loss, and David Bednar recorded his 32nd save after Colorado cut the lead in the ninth.
Yet the win did not settle the questions surrounding the lineup and pitching staff. Several players are approaching important medical checkpoints, and the Yankees have less than three weeks to determine which injured contributors can help in the postseason race. The latest developments show why a positive update does not necessarily mean a return is close.
Chisholm’s thumb adds a new concern
Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the latest Yankees regular to require attention after jamming his right thumb on a headfirst slide into second base in the bottom of the eighth. He had tried to stretch a hit into a double and was ruled out after a replay review.
Chisholm initially stayed in the game. He fielded Jake McCarthy’s grounder to open the ninth, but bounced his throw toward first base. Luis García Jr. scooped it to complete the out, and Jose Caballero replaced Chisholm at second.
Boone said the Yankees would reassess the thumb Wednesday morning and determine whether further testing was necessary. He described the immediate concern after the game.
“We’ll see. He kind of jammed his thumb. So he’s a little numb right now. We’ll see what we have in the morning.”
Chisholm was receiving treatment after the game and did not speak with reporters. No fracture, ligament injury or injured-list decision had been announced as of the latest verified update. The Yankees therefore have an unresolved availability question, not a confirmed long-term absence.
The second baseman went 2-for-4 Tuesday and has played in 134 games this season. He is batting .232 with 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and 40 stolen bases. His speed and ability to cover multiple infield positions make even a short absence significant for a Yankees roster already relying heavily on young players.
Grisham improves, but calendar remains a problem
Trent Grisham offered a more encouraging update Tuesday, although he remains unwilling to predict when he can play again. The Yankees center fielder performed agility drills before the Rockies game as he recovers from a Grade 2 strain of his right hamstring.
Grisham reinjured the hamstring Friday in San Diego and went on the 10-day injured list the following day. He missed approximately three weeks with a similar strain in June, though the latest injury is in a different area of the same hamstring.
Boone has acknowledged that Grisham could miss the rest of the regular season. The outfielder said the improvement has not changed his approach to setting a return date.
“I don’t have a timetable,’’ Grisham said. “Just listen to my body.”
Grisham also described himself as “very frustrated” after the work he had put into recovering and remaining healthy. His current progress is encouraging, but the Yankees have not announced a running progression, rehabilitation assignment or date for his return.
Spencer Jones is expected to remain the primary center fielder, with Cody Bellinger available to shift over from left field. Jasson Domínguez also has center-field experience. The Yankees recalled Domínguez when Grisham went on the injured list, giving Boone another outfield option while the veteran recovers.
Jones entered Tuesday with a 1.031 OPS over his previous 17 games, although he also struck out 19 times in 60 plate appearances. His production has helped the Yankees absorb the injury, but Grisham’s absence still leaves the club with a consequential October decision if his recovery extends into the final week.
Cruz chooses a throwing trial over immediate surgery
Fernando Cruz is taking a different path. The 36-year-old reliever has decided to postpone Tommy John surgery after a specialist examination and a cortisone injection, giving himself a chance to pitch again this season.
Cruz has been sidelined since late August with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He sought an opinion from Dr. Keith Meister, who cleared him to attempt a conservative recovery. Cruz expects to begin throwing by the end of the week.
The decision does not mean the ligament has healed or that surgery is permanently off the table. The Yankees must first determine whether Cruz can throw without pain, build up his workload and recover between sessions before considering a return to major league competition.
Cruz has a 4-6 record and 3.13 ERA in 61 appearances this season. His absence has removed an experienced arm from the Yankees bullpen at a time when Boone is working to establish dependable postseason roles behind closer Bednar.
The immediate goal is to see whether the throwing program can progress. No date for a bullpen session, rehabilitation appearance or activation has been confirmed. A return remains possible, but it depends on his response to the increasing demands placed on the elbow.
Weathers reaches a different stage of recovery
Ryan Weathers has also resumed throwing, giving the Yankees another potential pitching option. The left-hander has been out of games since Aug. 22 with a left forearm flexor strain, and his comeback is being managed separately from Cruz’s elbow injury.
Weathers threw on flat ground at a distance of about 23 meters Tuesday. He planned to repeat the work Wednesday and Thursday, rest Friday and potentially return to a mound afterward, depending on how his arm responds.
The limited time remaining in the regular season could make a bullpen assignment more practical than stretching Weathers back into a starter’s workload. He has expressed hope of contributing in relief during the postseason, but the Yankees have not announced a role or activation timetable.
Four injuries, four different roster decisions
The Yankees now face four distinct medical checkpoints. Chisholm needs an assessment of a new thumb injury. Grisham must advance from agility work to full baseball activity. Cruz must test whether his damaged elbow can tolerate throwing. Weathers must build from flat-ground work to mound sessions.
Those differences matter more than simply counting how many players are approaching a return. Chisholm’s status could affect the immediate infield alignment, while Grisham’s recovery will influence the outfield. Cruz and Weathers, meanwhile, must demonstrate that they can handle a pitching workload before Boone can include them in postseason plans.
The Yankees have alternatives, but each carries a different cost. Caballero can cover second base, Jones can continue in center, and the current bullpen has helped keep the team competitive. None of those options eliminates the value of getting established contributors healthy.
For now, the Yankees are awaiting Chisholm’s next assessment while Grisham, Cruz and Weathers continue their respective recoveries. Their availability for the final stretch and October remains dependent on medical progress rather than an announced return date.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
The Yankees would really be desperate to put Dominquez in CF. He has trouble handling any spot out there