Aaron Judge watched another Yankees postseason game from the sideline. New York left the captain off its 26-man American League Division Series roster for the second straight round while he recovers from a right calf strain, and Tampa Bay then blanked the Yankees 1-0 in Game 1 behind Drew Rasmussen.

Boone said Friday's decision followed meetings with Judge and the club's sports medicine staff. Judge had started running and had taken batting practice for a couple of days, but Boone wanted several more days of endurance work to chase a better version of Judge later — knowing a series loss could end the season first. New York carried Giancarlo Stanton as a pinch-hit option and added left-hander Ryan Weathers in place of Amed Rosario.

Judge has not played since straining the soleus on Sept. 16 in his seventh game back from a fractured rib. The Yankees also left him off the Wild Card roster and still swept Boston. Barring an injury substitution, New York must beat the Rays and reach the ALCS for Judge to play again in 2026.

Backstory: New York is 54-43 in games without Judge this season. Tropicana Field's turf factored "a little bit" into Boone's thinking, he said, before the club ultimately kept Judge off again.

Where to watch: ALDS Game 2 is Monday at 8 p.m. ET on TBS from Tropicana Field, still without Judge on the active list.

What we know:
Judge is not on the ALDS roster. The Yankees trail 0-1 after Saturday's 1-0 loss. Stanton and Weathers are on the 26-man list.

What we don't:
Whether Judge can return for an ALCS if New York advances, and how soon the calf clears full-speed running.

The roster decision and Saturday final are both settled facts. Hope for Judge in October now runs through winning the series first.