Ahead of the Yankees’ start of the second half, attention centers on Aaron Judge’s availability. While many of his teammates use the downtime to prepare for the stretch, Judge is focused on determining how much he will be able to play going forward. Both reports describe an uncertainty around his status entering the next phase of the season, suggesting that his health or readiness remains a key factor for the Yankees’ plans. The articles do not provide additional details on the cause of the concern or specify an exact timetable for a return, instead emphasizing the need to monitor his ability to participate. As the team shifts from the break into the second half schedule, Judge’s participation is portrayed as an important question for the Yankees’ lineup and day-to-day decisions. The reporting aligns on the central theme that Judge’s availability is uncertain at the moment, even as the rest of the roster readies for the new stretch of games.