What happened: Aaron Judge declined to detail how his fractured right rib is responding, saying he will offer a fuller update only once the Yankees complete new imaging. That reimaging is still weeks off, and Judge said he would rather wait for hard results than speculate about how he feels day to day.

Why it matters: The absence of the back-to-back AL MVP is being felt sharply, with New York sliding through one of its worst stretches of the season. Every extra week without a firm return date keeps the lineup thin and the standings pressure mounting.

What to watch: Watch for the Yankees to schedule the follow-up imaging in the coming weeks, which would only clear Judge to begin ramping up rather than return. Until then, the club must steady itself without its captain.