Yankees news: Aaron Judge plans to skip rehab stint

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 Rodríguez 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." Rodríguez'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, Rodríguez could get another turn through the rotation, though it may also make sense to bounce him to a depleted bullpen.