What happened: Judge was not included on New York's Division Series roster. His absence leaves him unavailable for the Yankees as the series opens.

Why it matters: That removes a centerpiece bat from New York's October plans and forces the club to It also keeps attention on Judge's playoff status after uncertainty around his availability.

What to watch: The next step is whether Judge is added for a later round or remains sidelined beyond this series. New York's lineup card will show how the Yankees redistribute his spot immediately.