ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Aaron Judge said his left-side soreness was likely the result of “too many hundred swings before and after games” in the early part of the season.

Judge missed a pair of games just a week into the regular season and said he hoped being cautious now would prevent a longer absence later in the year.

After saying the injury was “really tough to describe,” Judge said it made sense for the Yankees to be cautious at this point.

“Any soreness, based on track record, why miss a month, when you can miss one game or two games,” Judge said of trying to avoid making any potential injury worse by playing through it. “What’s the difference of playing 155 and 157 [games]? That was the intent of it and I’m feeling good now.”

After sitting on Wednesday and Friday — along with getting treatment on the team’s off day on Thursday — Judge returned Saturday and started in right again in Sunday’s 8-4, 10-inning win at Tropicana Field.

The soreness began, Judge said, during the Yankees’ opening series against the Blue Jays.

“I felt it probably in the Toronto series early on,’’ Judge said. “I’m a guy, when my swing doesn’t feel right or something in the outfield doesn’t feel right or something on the bases doesn’t feel right, I get right to work.”

Sometimes to his detriment.

This time, it led to a “little issue of too many hundred swings before and after games,’’ Judge said. “I’ve got to pace myself especially when it’s a 162 [-game schedule] and not a 60-game sprint. It’s about being smart and taking care of your body.”

That’s still something he and the Yankees are trying to figure out, with Judge among the players who has had trouble staying on the field.

But Judge is confident he’s making progress in that area.

“You learn over the years and find what works and what didn’t work,’’ Judge said. “You find that sweet spot that makes you consistent all year.”

Even when he was feeling the effects of the side soreness, Judge hit pretty well.

In Sunday’s victory, Judge walked twice. He also grounded out with the go-ahead run at second in the top of the ninth.

“I’m hitting the ball hard and taking walks,’’ Judge said of his work at the plate.

The next test will be coming out of this series, since he’s had problems arise after playing on the turf at Tropicana Field and now the Yankees are set to play their next three games at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla. where the Blue Jays are hosting games due to Canada’s COVID restrictions.

“I’m looking forward to it,’’ Judge said of playing at the new location.