What happened: Aaron Judge is out of the New York Yankees lineup for the second consecutive day, having missed his first game of the season the night before. The absence follows shoulder soreness that led to imaging, which revealed a bone bruise. The Yankees have characterized the issue as day-to-day and are hopeful Judge can return quickly.

Why it matters: Judge is the engine of the Yankees' offense, so even a short absence reshapes the lineup and the team's run production. As the Yankees' winning rate has been closely tied to Judge's presence, his day-to-day status becomes the club's central question. Losing their cleanup bat for any stretch raises the stakes on how the rest of the order produces.

What to watch: Watch for the Yankees to clarify whether Judge needs an IL stint or stays day-to-day, and whether he returns for the next game. Updates on his shoulder and any follow-up imaging will set the timeline.