What happened: The Yankees activated Aaron Judge on Monday for the series opener against Colorado after he faced live pitching at Yankee Stadium. He bypassed a minor-league rehabilitation assignment following a late-season workout progression.
Why it matters: New York enters Tuesday 81-62, four games off the AL East lead and 8.5 games above the playoff cutoff. The remaining 19 games give its captain a short runway to regain timing before October.
By the numbers: Judge hit .248/.375/.533 with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs in 59 games before the injury. His 84-game absence exceeded his season appearances by 25.
What to watch: His workload and defensive innings during the six-game homestand will show how aggressively New York plans to use him.