Aaron Judge expected to be out of lineup for start of Guardians series

ARLINGTON — Aaron Judge continues to make progress on his strained right hip, but the star slugger’s absence will likely extend into the Yankees’ upcoming homestand, manager Aaron Boone said.

Boone doesn’t expect Judge to play in Monday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians in the Bronx but says he could return to the lineup later in the week.

“If he doesn’t go on the [injured list], probably the best case is sometime in that Cleveland series,” Boone said Sunday.

Judge got banged up Wednesday on an awkward head-first slide into third base against the Minnesota Twins. He remained in that game and started Thursday’s road series opener against the Texas Rangers but left in the fourth inning after two at-bats.

The reigning American League MVP hasn’t played since, and an MRI on Friday revealed a mild strain to the top of his hip.

Judge threw Sunday but didn’t hit, Boone said. The Yankees hope to determine by Monday whether Judge will require a stint on the injured list.

“He came in feeling a little better today, so I’m sure he’ll go through everything and we’ll evaluate where we are,” Boone said before Sunday’s game in Arlington.

The Yankees dropped Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s games without Judge, scoring four total runs across the three losses. Judge — who re-signed with the Yankees on a nine-year, $360 million contract in the offseason — leads the team with six home runs and 14 RBI.

Following Thursday’s early exit, Judge said he wasn’t “too concerned” about the injury.

“Best to shut it down and try to reevaluate and see here in a couple days,” Judge said.

An MRI on newly called-up Jake Bauers’ right knee came back clean Sunday, a day after he crashed hard into the left field wall at Globe Life Field.

Bauers will avoid the injured list and is considered day-to-day, Boone said.

The collision occurred in the first inning of Saturday’s game after Bauers made a tough sliding catch. X-rays were also negative.

Before Sunday’s game, Bauers expressed optimism he avoided a serious injury.

“I feel like I’m walking pretty good, walking pain-free,” Bauers said. “The only thing that’s keeping my range of motion down is the swelling.”

Outfielder Franchy Cordero, who was sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after Friday’s game, returned to the Yankees clubhouse Sunday before Bauers’ test results came back. Cordero was put on the team’s traveling taxi squad and wasn’t added to the MLB roster.

Two days after he threw a successful live session, starting pitcher Luis Severino is nearing a rehab assignment, Boone said.

Severino, who is working back from a lat strain, is expected to pitch for High-A Tampa on Wednesday or Thursday.

“Sevy’s doing well,” Boone said Sunday.

The hard-throwing right-hander hasn’t appeared in a game this season after going 7-3 with a 3.18 ERA last year. He threw 40 pitches in Friday’s live session.

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Injured lineup regulars Giancarlo Stanton and Josh Donaldson are both hitting, throwing and participating in running programs, according to the Yankees manager.

Boone didn’t offer a timeline for either player but said Sunday they are “both definitely making progress.”

Stanton hasn’t played since April 15 due to a Grade 2 hamstring strain and could miss more than a month. Donaldson last appeared in a game on April 5 and suffered a setback on his strained hamstring during a rehab assignment about two weeks later.

Also progressing is reliever Tommy Kahnle, who said he felt good after a bullpen session Sunday morning.

Kahnle, who experienced bicep tendinitis more than a month ago, tossed 20 pitches — including four changeups — during the session and expects to throw another bullpen on Thursday.

“Everything felt right,” Kahnle said Sunday.

Kahnle hasn’t pitched in 2023 after signing a two-year contract with the Yankees in the offseason. He returns from the Los Angeles Dodgers after playing with New York from 2017-20.