NEW YORK – Aaron Judge will see a specialist on Wednesday, to get a better idea of what’s causing discomfort in his right shoulder.
Just the possibility of an injury-list stint for Judge sent a shudder through Yankees Universe before Tuesday’s 9-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, on a night when Cam Schlittler didn’t have it.
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With the Yanks’ still in reach, Camilo Doval couldn’t put away Travis Bazzana, who delivered a two-out, two-strike, three-run double in the eighth inning – a cue to 41,045 fans to start toward Yankee Stadium’s exits.
For now, the Yankees’ captain is a distinctly worrisome “day-to-day.’’
Just when you thought these Yankees were equipped to avoid a June swoon, the idea of Judge missing any time – with Giancarlo Stanton (strained right calf) still sidelined – is a disquieting development.
Even in this mediocre American League.
And the Yanks’ lousy record vs. the few above-.500 teams they’ve played will continue to be a topic, until it’s not.
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Aaron Judge’s recent performance dip
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees rounds the bases on his two-run home run against Yusei Kikuchi #16 of the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Jose Caballero #72 of the New York Yankees celebrates in the dugout his two-run home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels scores a run during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates his three-run home run with Adam Frazier #20 and Zach Neto #9 in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees watches his game-tying, two-run home run in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates in the dugout his solo home run in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Jose Caballero #72 of the New York Yankees scores the walk-off run on a wild pitch in the ninth inning for an 11-10 win against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Ryan McMahon #19 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammates after being at the plate when a wild pitch pitch was thrown, allowing the winning run from third base score in the ninth inning for an 11-10 win against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium on April 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
Apr 13, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) celebrates with second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
(John Jones, John Jones-Imagn Images)
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See photos of Yankees vs Angels with Aaron Judge and Mike Trout
Apr 13, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon (19) is mobbed by teammates after winning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
(John Jones, John Jones-Imagn Images)
We haven’t seen the MVP version of Judge in 2026, while Cody Bellinger entered June leading AL batters in War (via baseball-reference.com) and Ben Rice is the Yankee lineup’s current MVP.
Manager Aaron Boone feels that Judge’s performance has lately been affected by his ailing right shoulder – caused by an upper ribcage bone bruise, per the initial diagnosis.
That would partly explain Judge’s .180 batting average and .550 OPS in his last 16 games, with one home run in 61 at-bats.
Despite no hard evidence of a jarring, on-field event that might’ve caused Judge’s issue, it uncomfortably shadows his late 2019 ribcage stress fracture, due to a diving outfield attempt.
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The impact of that injury wasn’t fully known until spring training of 2020, and Judge’s recovery required several more months; he was ready when the pandemic-delayed season opened in late July.
Back to the present, the absence of Judge is “obviously a deep loss in the lineup,’’ said Bellinger. “And we’ve all got to pick it up around him.’’
The veteran Paul Goldschmidt did his best Tuesday, with a homer, double and four RBI, while nursing a tight back that made him a late switch from first base to DH.
(Goldschmidt felt his back issue was related to the long West Coast flight Sunday night and said he could’ve played defensively if needed).
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“He’s the captain for a reason,’’ Goldschmidt said of Judge. “But if he does end up missing time, whether it‘s short or long, the guys that are here are going to have to step up and play well.”
Jose Caballero got the start in right field Tuesday, and Jasson Dominguez (shoulder sprain) is due to start a minor league rehab assignment on Friday, putting him in the pinstriped picture.
Stanton will join Dominguez in their first live BP session Wednesday since going on the IL, but Stanton – who might not require a rehab assignment – is still at least a couple of weeks away.
Cam Schlittler extends Yankees’ rough night
Jun 2, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
And this time, Schlittler couldn’t quite lift the Stadium’s psyche.
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Tuesday’s four (earned) run, 4.1-inning effort marked Schlittler’s highest runs allowed and shortest start of the year.
“Just didn’t have my stuff today and they had a good approach,’’ said Schlittler, who yielded two of Jose Ramirez’s three doubles Tuesday, and a two-run homer to Kyle Manzardo.
Before his MLB-leading 1.50 ERA went to 1.89 Tuesday, Schlittler said it “wasn’t my day’’ last week at Kansas City, though he held the Royals to one run in six innings.
Boone said Schlittler’s stuff has been “down just a tick’’ over his last two starts, while crediting Cleveland for doing “a good job of getting to his fastballs’’ which lacked “a little bit of his normal power.’’
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Schlittler blamed himself for fretting too much over his mechanics.
Bet on seeing a more convicted Schlittler on Sunday against the Red Sox, regardless of his stuff. When we’ll see Judge in the lineup again is currently tougher to answer.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: On a forgettable Tuesday night, Yankees’ still waiting on Aaron Judge