Aaron Judge's latest injury is the beginning of the end for the Yankees

With Aaron Judge heading back to the injured list for the New York Yankees, you can count out any glimmer of hope that the Yankees will catch the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League East crown.

You can likely also count out the Yankees from moving out of the AL wild-card round as well.

Sure, there's every indication that Judge could be the back with the Yankees for the start of the wild-card round, beginning Sept. 29. But the Judge who returned from a rib injury just seven games ago after missing 99 games already this season looked anything like a game-changer in the Bronx.

Judge's slash line since his return? A measly .174/.208/.304 in 24 September plate appearances.

That is not the slash line of someone who will push the Yankees deep into the postseason.

Aaron Judge's latest injury is a doomsday scenario for Yankees

In a perfect world, it's possible that the next few games could have given Judge a chance to shake off the rust and find his rhythm at the plate. Now that hope has evaporated as a right calf strain will land the slugger on the injured list on Saturday.

Getting Judge back just in time for the postseason or in the middle of a wild-card series means he will be thrown right into the fire with no time to prepare. Yankees fans have already seen what that looks like this season with Judge choosing not to do a minor league rehab assignment before being activated on Sept. 8. It wasn't pretty then ... and it won't likely be pretty when it happens later this month as well.

While Judge was sidelined the first time, the Yankees posted a .227 team average and a .681 OPS. Those numbers won't get you far in late September and October when every team is throwing their best pitchers in every series.

Those numbers combined with a struggling Judge aren't a recipe for success either.

When Judge returns, the Yankees will have to ask themselves just how much of the offensive weight he can realistically carry, as well as if it's enough to help the Yankees advance out of the wild-card round. Those are dangerous questions to be asking when the postseason pressure has been turned up to high in the Bronx. 

Yes, the Yankees will still make the postseason without Judge in the lineup. But if they're counting on him to save their October, they better hope he quickly finds a way to save his own season first.