Aaron Judge out of lineup for third straight day as Yankees’ concerns grow

Yankees superstar Aaron Judge is out of the lineup for a third straight day.

The back-to-back AL MVP has been described as day-to-day with a bone bruise, but his absence from Thursday’s lineup means he did not start any of the contests in this three-game set against Cleveland.

The Yankees have not officially placed Judge on the IL, but missing a third straight game — he did not play Tuesday nor Wednesday — doesn’t seem to be a good sign.

Aaron Judge is still sidelined. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The team told reporters he had been dealing with discomfort and soreness in the bruise near his right rib cage.

Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Wednesday night a lack of “clarity” as to the extent of Judge’s injury, and they’re not yet sure as to what they are dealing with.

He saw a specialist Wednesday that confirmed what the Yankees have seen thus far on his injury, but will return to the specialist for “more high-power, more specific” tests in the rib and chest to get a stronger diagnosis.

The Yankees face the Guardians in their series finale Thursday at 1:35.

More to come on this developing story…