Aaron Judge rejoining Yankees for Tuesday's game, Boone says - ESPN

ARLINGTON, Texas — Aaron Judge will be activated by the New York Yankees on Tuesday, when their captain is eligible to come off the 10-day injured list after being sidelined because of a flexor strain in his right elbow.

Maybe the two-time AL MVP slugger can help get them back on track.

Manager Aaron Boone said after New York's fourth consecutive loss, 8-5 to the Texas Rangers in 10 innings on Monday night, that Judge would be available for the middle game of the three-game series.

«Judge tomorrow,» Boone said, without elaborating when asked about his return.

Though Boone didn't reveal then what the specific plans were, he had said before the game that Judge would be the designated hitter when he first returned to the lineup. He said the outfielder could also play catch while in Texas, which would help determine when he could return to playing in the field.

After hitting off Yankees minor league pitchers at the team's complex in Tampa, Florida, for the second day in a row on Monday, Judge traveled to Texas and was there for the series opener. He didn't speak to reporters in the clubhouse after the game.

Judge hasn't played since July 25 because of the elbow strain. An MRI showed no acute damage to his ulnar collateral ligament and he had a platelet-rich injection July 27, when he was put on the IL in a move retroactive to the previous day.

His .342 batting average was still the best in the majors after Monday's games. He was fourth with 37 homers and fifth with 85 RBIs.

New York will have an open spot on its active roster because Boone said newly acquired outfielder Austin Slater was headed to the IL. Slater, acquired last Wednesday from the Chicago White Sox, exited in the second inning Monday night because of left