Yankees' best playoff lineup without Aaron Judge (among severely limited options)

The New York Yankees were dealt a devastating blow on Friday when they learned that Aaron Judge is going back on the IL with a right calf strain. The team will now have to deal with the ensuing reality, which is that their superstar right fielder might not make it back in time for the postseason.

The Yankees were without Judge for over three months this season due to a stress fracture in his right rib. And after playing in just seven games since his return, Judge is back on the IL with a new injury.

The Yankees and manager Aaron Boone would not put a timeline on Judge or reveal the grade/severity of his calf strain. They will hope he can come back for the Wild Card series, which begins in one week, but there is certainly a possibility that the captain won't be available. So, let's take a crack at constructing the Yankees' best playoff lineup if Judge can't make it back.

Yankees' best playoff lineup vs. Red Sox if Aaron Judge cannot return

1. Ben Rice (L) DH

Ben Rice has been the Yankees' best hitter this season. And despite dealing with a midseason slump, Rice's bat has gotten hot again at the right time (.339/.459/.576 slash line in September). The left-handed slugger has hit 39 home runs, driven in 95 RBI and has an .889 OPS on the year. He is their most important offensive weapon with Judge out.

2. Cody Bellinger (L) LF

The Yankees' next most important bat is left fielder Cody Bellinger. The lefty swinger also dealt with a midseason slump and then went on the IL with a hamstring strain but, like Rice, Bellinger is heating up at the right time with a big September: .333/.347/.542 with four homers and 12 RBI. If the Yankees are going to make any noise in the postseason without Judge, they will need Rice and Bellinger to carry them.

3. Heliot Ramos (R) RF

This is less than ideal, but the Yankees need right-handed bats in their lineup and that's where Heliot Ramos comes in. Since August 30, when he blasted a key three-run homer against the Boston Red Sox, Ramos is 9-for-34 (.264) at the plate, and has homered twice in his past two games. The Yankees need one of their two trade deadline pickups to step up in the postseason.

4. Luis Garcia Jr. (L) 1B

Speaking of deadline acquisitions, Luis Garcia Jr. is another crucial bat for the Yankees. Since being acquired from the Washington Nationals, Garcia has hit .276/.307/.462 with a .769 OPS, seven homers and 15 RBI in 39 games as a Yankee. Garcia is in the same category as Rice and Bellinger as one of the most important Yankee bats.

5. Amed Rosario (R) 3B

Amed Rosario should start at third base over Ryan McMahon because he brings more offense to the position. Rosario was brought in to crush lefties, but he has done the opposite this year (.297 average vs. righties). With the Yankees needing all of the offense they can get, they should make the move to go with Rosario at third over McMahon in the postseason.

6. Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B

According to Boone, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is expected to be activated on the Yankees' next homestand. He has been on the IL since September 9 with a right thumb sprain. The hope is that when he returns he can give the Yankees the type of production he showed last season when he went 30/30.

7. Spencer Jones (L) CF

Rookie Spencer Jones has earned a starting spot in the Yankees' outfield and should start in center field come postseason time. In his last 30 games entering the weekend, Jones was slashing .288/.336/.481 with five homers and 20 RBI, and he tattooed a home run on Sunday after sitting out (precautionary) with foot soreness on the turf Saturday night. The Yankees will hope that he can produce like this in his first taste of playoff action.

8. Austin Wells (L) C

After hitting 21 homers a season ago, catcher Austin Wells has had a brutal season at the plate (.186 average, .613 OPS). However, Wells has been a little better offensively since the All-Star break, slashing .231/.342/.425 with seven homers and 18 RBI. The Yankees need his bat to wake up in the postseason, especially if they're without Judge.

9. George Lombard Jr. (R) SS

Rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. has been shaky defensively, which is why it could be a toss up whether he or Jose Caballero starts at the position in the playoffs. But Lombard homered twice this weekend, and maybe he can rise to the occasion in his postseason debut. At the very least, he brings speed at the bottom of the Yankees' order.

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