Yankees news: Aaron Judge plans to skip rehab stint

BRONX, NY - AUGUST 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees works out before a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 23, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

New York Post | Mark W. Sanchez: Aaron Judge is angling to skip a minor-league rehab assignment altogether in his recovery from a fractured rib. Why waste at-bats? Why waste anything down in a minor league game?" said the Yankees captain. I've been doing this for a while now, and I got a sense of what I need to do on the field and how to manage it."

Judge has previously expressed an urgency to return from the injury, which has sidelined him since the end of May. He didn't do a rehab assignment when he returned from his long-term toe injury in 2023 and has even less of an interest now. Judge took indoor batting practice for the first time Tuesday, the latest progression in his recovery.

NBC Sports: Clarke Schmidt is set to pitch Saturday in his first game action since July of last year. The 30-year-old, who has been on the shelf recovering from Tommy John surgery, is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment, per Meredith Marakovits of YES. He's expected to need multiple appearances as he ramps up for a bullpen role after starting full-time from 2023-25. When healthy, Schmidt has been a difference-maker; in 30 starts over his last two seasons, the right-hander posted a 3.07 ERA and 133 ERA+.

New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: ($) Elmer Rodriguez made his strongest start as a Yankee Wednesday, allowing three runs and striking out six while pitching into the seventh. According to pitching coach Matt Blake, the performance is in line with what the team has been seeing from the rookie down at Triple-A. He's been attacking the zone," Blake said. The velo has been up a little bit on the sinker. He's gone deep into some games lately." Rodriguez's velocity was, indeed, improved, as his sinker was 2.1 mph faster than his average entering play. With injuries to Max Fried and Ryan Weathers, Rodriguez could get another turn through the rotation, though it may also make sense to bounce him to a depleted bullpen.

New York Post | Jared Schwartz: It's been a long road to the Bronx for Michael Fulmer. The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year and a 2017 All-Star, Fulmer has bounced between seven organizations over the past two seasons, struggling to latch on in a big-league bullpen. The Yankees initially signed the 33-year-old to a minor-league deal but were forced to call him up before he was able to don a RailRiders jersey after suffering injuries in their bullpen. He made his debut Wednesday, pitching a clean eighth in an eventual victory over the Astros. I'm excited to get him here," said manager Aaron Boone. Obviously, it's a guy that's got a lot of experience, had a lot of success in the big leagues, has been through a lot on the injury front. ... He's a guy that's had a good season and is throwing the ball well and hopefully he can come here and grab a role. There's opportunity there."

SportsNet | David Singh: After Ernie Clement took a foul ball to the groin Tuesday, Singh takes a look at the state of cups in today's game. Toronto's Clement and Myles Straw - as well as Jazz Chisholm Jr. - eschew the protective measure, prioritizing mobility and comfort over security. Blue Jays manager John Schneider estimates about 1o percent of players wear cups, a major decrease since his playing days in the early aughts. Clement sums up the modern philosophy succinctly: I always feel like if I miss a groundball, it's my fault and I deserve to get hit in the nuts."