Yankees Jazz Chisholm Jr. Aaron Judge not in Thursday’s lineup at KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – And on the Yankees’ 67th game of the season, he rested.

In the midst of a remarkable season, Aaron Judge was out of the lineup for the first time this year – a planned day of rest for the Yanks’ slugging captain.

But after Judge clubbed his 24th homer of the year Tuesday and belted his 25th on Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone admitted to having “second thoughts” about sitting him Thursday at Kauffman Stadium.

“I never want him out of the lineup, but (this could be) one of those that pays some dividends in the long run, keeping him fresh,” said Boone, with the Yankees seeking a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals.

Boone took his plan to Judge on Tuesday afternoon; the Royals had righty Seth Lugo scheduled Thursday after two lefties started for KC, and the Yanks were flying to Boston after the game, looking at a 4 a.m. arrival at their hotel.

“I think we’re both on the same page with this one,” said Boone, who also rested Austin Wells and DJ LeMahieu on Thursday, while Jazz Chisholm Jr. (left groin tightness) was probably available off the bench.

Also on Thursday, feeling the need for a fresh bullpen arm, the Yankees recalled reliever Scott Effross and optioned lefty Brent Headrick to Triple-A.

As a DH, Giancarlo Stanton (elbows) started a third straight minor league rehab game Thursday at Class AA Somerset, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Before the game, Boone said there was no decision yet on whether Stanton might be activated for this weekend’s games at Boston.

Here is the Yankees’ full lineup for Thursday:

1. Trent Grisham, CF
2. Ben Rice, DH
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Cody Bellinger, RF
5. Jasson Dominguez, LF
6. Anthony Volpe, SS
7. JC Escarra, C
8. Pablo Reyes, 2B
9. Oswald Peraza, 3B

Jazz Chisholm Jr. says he’s OK to play

Chisholm feels he dodged a potentially more serious situation by coming out of the Yankees’ eventual 6-3 victory Wednesday.

Going from first to third on Anthony Volpe’s fifth inning double, his left groin “just tightened up and I didn’t want to force it,’’ said Chisholm. “It definitely would have been bad if I had tried to stay in and push through it.’’

Treatment and stretching, both postgame and Thursday morning, improved Chisholm’s condition and he took groundballs on Thursday afternoon.

“I can play,’’ said Chisholm, who expects to be in the lineup for Friday’s series opener at Fenway Park against the Red Sox.

Chisholm left Tuesday night’s game with neck tightness after a head-first slide at third base. He just came off the injured list on June 3, after missing over month due to a strained oblique.

“I was very upset (at the time),’’ Chisholm said of leaving Wednesday’s game, adding that he’s had six straight seasons interrupted by injury.

“It’s frustrating. I feel like I do everything the right way…to stay on the field,’’ said Chisholm, including training, massage, hydrating and a personal chef managing his diet.