The Yankees gained a game. Judge's October outlook got tougher.

The Yankees did the one thing they had to do first: beat the Rays. Cody Bellinger's two-run homer in the fourth inning stood up for a 2-0 win in Tuesday's doubleheader opener at Yankee Stadium. Carlos Rodón earned his 100th career victory and reached 1,500 career strikeouts, milestones the club marked during the game.

The result moved New York to 90-66 and Tampa Bay to 95-61. That is a five-game AL East gap, one game smaller than it was at the start of the day. The second game begins at 7:05 p.m. Eastern. The Yankees still need much more than one win to take the division; Tampa Bay remains in control of the race.

The other clock belongs to Aaron Judge. Before the opener, manager Aaron Boone said the Yankees are not planning on Judge being available for a potential American League Wild Card Series, according to Tuesday reporting by Yahoo Sports. Boone did not rule him out. That distinction matters: the club has a working expectation, not a final postseason roster decision.

One result, two very different clocks

Judge is on the injured list with a right calf strain, retroactive to September 17. MLB reported the placement on September 19. The Yankees have not announced a return date. Judge's availability would matter only if New York plays in the Wild Card Series; an AL East title would give the club a different postseason path.

The Game 1 shutout was useful evidence of what this team can do without its captain. Bellinger supplied the damage, Rodón kept the Rays off the board and David Bednar recorded the save. It was a five-hit afternoon for New York, not an offensive eruption, and nobody should mistake one win for proof that Judge's production can be replaced.

What is known about Judge

The honest assessment before Game 2 is narrow but important. New York gained a game in the standings. Judge is not expected for the Wild Card round if the Yankees play in it, but he has not been ruled out. The result is confirmed; the postseason roster and Judge's recovery are not.