Aaron Judge Expected to Return Yankees Lineup Tuesday Texas

Aaron Judge, the two-time American League MVP, is set to return to the New York Yankees lineup on Tuesday after being sidelined since July 25 with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Judge, who leads the majors with a .342 batting average along with 37 home runs and 85 RBIs, will initially serve as the designated hitter, which will result in Giancarlo Stanton being left out of the lineup. Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed optimism about Judge's return, noting that Judge was hitting off minor league pitchers and could soon start playing catch, which will determine when he might return to the outfield. The Yankees have struggled in Judge's absence, losing their last four games and falling to third place in the AL East, making his return a crucial boost for the team's offense. To activate Judge, the Yankees will place newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater on the injured list due to a hamstring issue. Boone emphasized the importance of Judge to the team's lineup and clubhouse morale as they aim to improve their performance with 49 games remaining in the regular season.