What happened: Judge continues to manage a right calf strain as the postseason opens. New York set its AL wild-card group against Boston without its star slugger.

Why it matters: The absence removes a central bat from the middle of the order at the start of the postseason. New York must account for those at-bats and outfield innings throughout the series.

What to watch: Watch how New York aligns its outfield and order in the series opener.