Judge set to return Tuesday vs. Rangers

The New York Yankees activated outfielder Aaron Judge from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.

Judge's return comes after he spent the minimum number of days on the IL. He was initially sidelined on July 26 with a flexor strain in his right elbow from a throw a few days earlier.

The two-time AL MVP will have to exclusively DH for the foreseeable future due to the nature of his injury. There's no timetable for when he can return to the outfield, although the Yankees said Monday that he might be able to start playing catch soon.

Judge, 33, was in the midst of another monster season before being sidelined. He's hitting .342/.449/.711 with 37 homers and 85 RBIs, and entered Tuesday leading the majors in all four slash line categories plus OPS and total bases, while topping AL hitters in runs scored. His efforts make him the favorite to be named the league's MVP for the third time in four years.

The Yankees also placed outfielder Austin Slater on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring strain. Slater, making just his second start with the Yankees after being acquired from the Chicago White Sox, exited Monday's game after coming up lame while running out a ground ball in the first inning.

The Yankees also reinstated right-hander Mark Leiter Jr., recalled reliever Yerry de los Santos, and designated pitcher JT Brubaker for assignment.

Trade deadline addition Jake Bird was also demoted to Triple-A in a separate move after allowing seven runs, including a walk-off homer against the Rangers, over his first three appearances with New York.