Yankees' Aaron Judge misses game with rib bone bruise

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge was out of the starting lineup Tuesday night against the Cleveland Guardians due to a bone bruise in his upper right rib cage area, an injury that could sideline him for several days. The team announced the diagnosis after imaging tests were conducted on Monday.

Manager Aaron Boone said Judge had been managing shoulder soreness for a couple of weeks, but the issue intensified over the weekend during the Yankees' series against the Oakland Athletics. Boone noted that he observed the injury affecting Judge's swings. The slugger is scheduled to meet with team doctors for further evaluation.

Judge had started each of the Yankees' first 59 games this season and was riding a 108-game consecutive playing streak dating back to last year, the fifth-longest active streak in the majors. Despite the recent discomfort, his statistical output remains strong; he is batting .248 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs, and an .907 OPS, ranking 13th in the majors in that category. However, his performance has dipped lately, with only one home run in his last 18 games.

The Yankees lost to the Guardians 9-4 in the first game Judge missed. His absence highlights his value to the...