NEW YORK — For weeks, with Aaron Judge reduced to a spectator, the Yankees' lead over Oakland for the top American League wild card spot has dwindled while their offense scuffled.

The dangerous prospect of traveling across the country for the one-game playoff became a significant possibility, one the Yankees will need to fend off over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Friday provided signs of hope.

Hours after activating Judge off the disabled list so he can begin a limited role for the time being, the Yankees finished off an 11-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays before a crowd of 40,138 at Yankee Stadium.

Judge wasn't a part of the offensive eruption, though, restricted to defense and baserunning as he continues to work his way back toward digging into the batter's box in a game.

He entered the game in the eighth inning to play right field, eliciting a big ovation from the crowd.

"It was great to hear that from them, hear their support," Judge said.

The Yankees didn't need him to hit on Friday, anyway.

They jumped on Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada from the start, batting around and scoring five runs in the first inning.

"To really come out and get after it and throw a crooked one up there early and then continue to add on was nice and something we needed," manager Aaron Boone said, "and hopefully something that can jump-start us even more."

Masahiro Tanaka did the rest of the mound, stifling Toronto through six scoreless innings.

All rise

Judge had been on the disabled list since July 27 with a fracture in his right wrist, an injury the Yankees originally predicted would cost the outfielder just three weeks.

That timetable came up significantly short. Judge needed six weeks before he could even grip and swing a bat again.

But Judge now is on the cusp of rejoining the lineup, which would immediately bolster the Yankees' offense at a crucial time.

"I hope it helps just because it adds another premium player to our lineup and adds more length to our lineup which in theory makes it harder on a pitcher," manager Aaron Boone said before the game, "which hopefully lends itself to a pitcher having to work harder and eventually make more mistakes that everyone can kind of benefit from."

Before Judge can hit in a game, he first will get some at-bats in a simulated-game scenario. Boone said "we're probably a couple days away" from settling on an exact plan.

Still, Judge's return as a full player is close. In the meantime, the Yankees are glad to have him off the DL at all.

"I just told him tonight I’m excited he’s going to have to have a jersey on and spikes on the bench, and hopefully he can impact us a little more," Boone said.