What happened: New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge will undergo imaging on his fractured right rib during the All-Star break to determine his rehabilitation timeline. General manager Brian Cashman stated the team does not expect the fracture to be completely healed, but hopes the scan shows enough progress to clear the reigning AL MVP for increased physical activity. A return in August remains the best-case scenario, as Judge will require a multi-week ramp-up once cleared.
Why it matters: The Yankees have struggled significantly without their offensive centerpiece, entering Thursday on a 5-15 slide. This slump dropped New York five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, making an August return critical for the team's divisional title pursuit.
By the numbers: New York holds a 50-42 record on the season and has dropped its last two matchups against Tampa Bay. The Rays sit atop the division at 54-36 and have outscored the Yankees 9-4 over their last two meetings at Tropicana Field.
What to watch: Team medical staff will review Judge's scan results next week before authorizing any upper-body activities.