Judge sits out with stiff neck

Aaron Judge was removed from the starting lineup of Saturday’s simulated game at Yankee Stadium with a stiff neck.

“I don’t think it’s that big a deal,” Aaron Boone said following the game. “It just locked up on him when he woke up. He slept on it a little weird.”

Judge got treatment on it and Boone hopes Judge can play in Sunday’s sim game.

“I don’t expect it to be a long-term thing.”

He was replaced in right field by Tyler Wade.

Judge is coming back from a fractured rib that sidelined him in spring training, but he said he’d be ready for Opening Day of the upcoming 60-game season, which is scheduled for July 23 at Washington.

➤ Masahiro Tanaka played catch in the outfield on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, as the right-hander continues to progress from the concussion he suffered last Saturday, when he was drilled in the head by a

Giancarlo Stanton line drive that was clocked at 112 mph.

“We’re moving slowly with Masa, making sure he’s able to play catch a couple of times now,’’ Boone said. “He’s responded well to an elevated heart rate on the bike and elliptical and with his arm care work.”

Tanaka remains in the concussion protocol and the Yankees have not determined when he might pitch again or if he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season.

“Anytime we’re talking about a concussion, we make sure we’re moving slowly and smartly,’’ Boone said. “There’s no plan in place exactly when exactly things are gonna happen, but he is at least responding how we’d hoped.”

➤ Clarke Schmidt gave up a run in 2 2/3 innings in Saturday’s sim game and is looking forward to pitching at the Stadium in a regular season game — and at some point, in front of fans.

“I’m here to compete,’’ said Schmidt, one of the team’s top prospects. “I’ve always been a guy that performs with a chip on his shoulder. My attitude, I wouldn’t call it Napoleanic, but almost an underdog. That people doubt me, even if that may not be the case.”

And while being on the mound at an empty ballpark was fine, Schmidt said he wants “to be able to pitch in a full Yankee Stadium. That’s always been one of my dreams.”