Yankees Aaron Judge’s first All-Star break is now over

Aaron Judge’s « star break » came early.

The Yankees slugger will not have the real thing next week, as he will start for the American League during the Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium. But he was out of the starting lineup on Tuesday after a full day off on Monday, as manager Aaron Boone wanted to give him back-to-back days off.

Judge’s absence from the roster initially sparked concern as he sat out Thursday in Boston with calf pain. Judge and Boone, however, said the outfielder was past that.

« I would say he kind of got through a bit, » Boone said before Judge hit Joey Gallo in the ninth inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to the Reds in the Bronx. « I just felt like we were going to take advantage of that day off, with the idea of ​​playing it five straight into the All-Star [break]. Just be careful with that and find that balance between the urgency of the day and the long game here. I’m just trying to be smart with it.

The judge compared consecutive days off to a pseudo All-Star break.

« I won’t have much break [next week] », Judge said. « So I think it’s just them saying, ‘We can take two days now. This will be your All-Star break and then let’s get them.’

Ron Marinaccio threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday, his first since landing on the disabled list with a shoulder inflammation on July 3.

The reliever, who hadn’t given up a run in his previous 15 ¹/₃ innings before heading to IL, said he felt stronger every day.

« It was my first time getting a cortisone injection, so I didn’t know what to expect, » Marinaccio said. « I didn’t feel so good last weekend, so in a short time, taking just five days off, I was pleasantly surprised at how I felt. »

The Yankees have yet to determine if Marinaccio will have to go to rehab. But he used the free time to tinker with his mechanics, which he says probably caused a shoulder problem.

Gerrit Cole, who gave up no runs on four hits and struck out 11 and walked away with a 3-0 lead before closer Clay Holmes allowed four runs in the ninth, is unlikely to pitch in the All-Star Game next Tuesday if he starts the last game before the break on Sunday against the Red Sox, which he is currently scheduled to do.

« If he goes on Sunday, probably not, » Boone said.

Jonathan Loaisiga (inflamed shoulder) made his second appearance in rehab Tuesday night at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, allowing a run on three hits, with two strikeouts in one inning. He threw 19 of his 23 pitches for strikes. He may now join the Yankees bullpen.

Wide receiver Ben Rortvedt also began a rehab assignment Tuesday with High-A Hudson Valley, eight weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus. He went 0-for-2 with a walk in five innings.

This is his second rehab assignment this season. His first, while working from a tight oblique he had faced since spring training, was cut short by knee discomfort.

Former Yankees reliever Luis Cessa, who was traded to the Reds last summer, spent some time before Tuesday’s game catching up with former teammates and coaches.