New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge went 3-for-4 with two solo home runs in Thursday's 9-3 win against the Tigers, bringing his season total to 46 and his career total to 361. Those 361 long balls for New York move him into a tie for fourth-most in franchise history with the all-time great Joe DiMaggio. The slugger is slashing .322/.443/.669 with 118 runs, 100 RBI, and 11 stolen bases to go along with his 46 home runs. He is the current favorite to take home the AL MVP Award for the second year in a row and figures to once again be a top-three pick in fantasy for 2026.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) is making the start in right field on Friday against the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Kevin Gausman in the Bronx and is hitting third in the batting order. This will be the first time that Judge has handled outfield duties since late July when he went down with a flexor strain in his right elbow. The 33-year-old reigning MVP has been working through a throwing program for a while, but the Yankees were never in a rush to get him back on defense until he was fully ready. Now that Judge is able to play defense again, it will open up the designated hitter spot for right-handed slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Judge should obviously be in all starting fantasy lineups on Friday, and he's hitting a robust .356 with a 1.322 OPS, six home runs and 12 RBI in 45 career at-bats against Gausman.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) is getting close to returning to right field, but the team hasn't set a target date yet, manager Aaron Boone told Talkin' Yanks on Tuesday. Judge went on the 10-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow in late July, and since he came back Aug. 5, the two-time AL MVP has been a full-time designated hitter. In a best-case scenario for the Yankees, Judge will go back to right sometime soon, which will enable Giancarlo Stanton to return to DH duties. Before Judge suffered his injury, the 35-year-old Stanton hadn't played the field since 2023. Because Stanton is too important to the Yankees' lineup to sit, they have started him in right 12 times since Judge came off the IL. Boone said that Stanton will start in left on Tuesday for the first time in two years when the Yankees open a series in Houston.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) will continue to serve as the team's designated hitter for at least a little while longer. Judge has been tossing from up to 150 feet in the outfield and throwing to second base this week, but not at maximum velocity. The two-time MVP suffered a flexor strain in his right elbow over a month ago and hasn't lined up in the outfield since July 25 as a result. There's still no timetable for Judge to return to his normal position, right field, but manager Aaron Boone expects it to happen this season. "I do," Boone said Thursday when asked if he believes Judge will play the outfield again in 2025. In a best-case scenario for the Yankees, they'll go back to having Judge in right and Giancarlo Stanton at DH for the rest of the season. With Judge unable to play the field, they've had to choose between using Stanton in right or keeping him out of the lineup over the past few weeks.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) threw to bases on Sunday for the first time since suffering a flexor strain in his right elbow a month ago. While manager Aaron Boone said afterward that Judge looked good, there's still no timetable for him to return to the outfield in games. Since Judge came off the 10-day injured list on Aug. 5, the two-time MVP has exclusively served as the Yankees' designated hitter. That's not an ideal setup for New York because it forces the club to either play big-hitting DH Giancarlo Stanton in right field or keep him out of the lineup entirely. Unfortunately for the Yankees, they'll have to continue with that arrangement for at least a little while longer as they vie for a playoff berth. With the Yankees trying to avoid a four-game sweep against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, Judge will DH and hit second, while Stanton will play right and bat fifth versus right-hander Dustin May.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) is getting "close" on his throwing program and has been throwing to bases, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Judge suffered a flexor strain in late July and has been limited to designated hitter duties since returning from the injured list on August 5. Judge's inability to play the field has forced the Yankees to play Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield to get both sluggers in the lineup at the same time. Judge is hitting just .216 with three home runs in 66 plate appearances this month, so the flexor strain may be impacting his offense as well as his defense.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the "Talkin Yanks" podcast on Tuesday that the team is trying to get to a place where outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) "can throw with ease while also being able to protect himself." He's currently following a structured throwing program and has advanced to throwing from 150 feet. Boone doesn't expect Judge to play right field in the two-game series against the Rays that starts on Tuesday night, and the skipper is also unsure if Judge will play in the four-game series against Boston this weekend. "I don't think we're going to see him back to throwing like he normally does at any point this year," Boone said. "We got to feel like he can go out there and be able to protect himself and represent himself." The reigning AL MVP sustained a flexor tendon sprain on July 22 and hasn't returned to the outfield since, and in the 11 games since his return from the IL, he has an .855 OPS with only two home runs, a double and six RBI.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) will "hopefully" return to playing defense during the team's upcoming road trip, manager Aaron Boone told Talkin' Yanks. Judge missed the end of July and the beginning of August after suffering a flexor strain, and he has been limited to DH duties since coming off the 10-day injured list a week ago. That could change when the Yankees embark on a five-game road trip later this week. They'll be in St. Louis from Friday through Sunday before starting a two-game set at Tampa Bay on Aug. 19. Judge has been stuck on 37 home runs since his return and has picked up a paltry four hits in 19 at-bats with no extra-base knocks, two RBI, six strikeouts, and four walks in six games.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) is unlikely to play in the outfield during their series against the Minnesota Twins, according to manager Aaron Boone. Over the weekend, the Yankees said Judge should be back in the outfield soon. It won't be this early, but it sounds like the veteran slugger is almost there. That being said, Judge will be limited to designated hitter duties during this series. He recently returned from a flexor strain, so the Yankees don't want to push him into the outfield yet. Giancarlo Stanton will continue seeing time in right field until Judge is ready to go back out there.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that outfielder Aaron Judge's (elbow) throwing program is moving in a "pretty good direction." The skipper is "optimistic" that Judge will return to duties in right field soon, although Boone didn't want to share a target date. The manager said on Saturday that there was no timetable for Judge to return to the outfield, but this update makes it seem like it could happen early next week. The 33-year-old reigning American League MVP recently returned from a trip to the injured list due to a right elbow flexor strain, and the Yankees are easing him in as the designated hitter until he's cleared to play the field. He's DHing and hitting third in Sunday's series finale against the Astros. Since returning from the IL last week, Judge has gone 3-for-12 with an RBI and two runs scored in four starts.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that he doesn't have a specific timeline for when outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) will return to the outfield, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. A report earlier this week suggested that Judge could return to right-field duties either this weekend or early next week, but now it sounds as though the Yankees are in no rush to put him back out there after he spent some time on the injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Giancarlo Stanton is making his first start of the year in the outfield on Saturday against the Astros with Judge still being eased in as the designated hitter. Since returning from the IL on Wednesday, Judge has gone 2-for-10 with an RBI, walk and four strikeouts. Fantasy managers could really care less about when Judge returns on defense, and he remains a must-start in all fantasy lineups.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network said that New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) could be back in the outfield "sometime towards the weekend or early next week." Judge returned on Tuesday as the designated hitter after a stay on the 10-day injured list due to a right flexor strain in his elbow and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. The Yankees are easing the 33-year-old reigning American League MVP back as the DH, but it sounds like a move back to the outfield is coming sooner than later. That would be good news for regular DH Giancarlo Stanton, who is on the bench again with Judge as the DH for Wednesday's contest versus the hosting Texas Rangers. Judge, a seven-time All-Star and two-time MVP, needs to be in all starting fantasy lineups when he's active. He currently leads baseball in runs (90), WAR (6.5), walks (73), average (.339), OBP (.446), slugging (.705) and OPS (1.151).

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed on Monday that outfielder superstar Aaron Judge (elbow) will return from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday. Judge was placed on the IL at the end of July with a flexor strain in his right elbow. This is great news for the Yankees and fantasy managers, as the Yankees have started August with a four-game losing streak. The 33-year-old has once again been an elite fantasy producer, slashing .342/.449/.711 with 37 home runs, 90 runs scored, 85 RBI, and six stolen bases in 459 plate appearances.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) could return from the injured list on Tuesday, reports Brendan Kuty of The Athletic. He has been on the 10-day IL since July 26 with a flexor strain in his right elbow. The plan is for the slugger to fly into Arlington on Monday night, where the Yankees will make the final decision on whether he is activated for Tuesday's contest against the Rangers. It's looking like the best-case scenario for the 33-year-old, who will have spent the minimum time on the shelf if he does make his return on Tuesday. He'll look to continue his sensational season, in which he is batting .342 with 37 home runs in 103 games, but he'll be eased into action in the DH role, which could push Giancarlo Stanton to the outfield or the bench.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) took live batting practice at the team's minor-league facility in Tampa Bay on Monday, according to Erik Boland of Newsday. Judge will take more at-bats on Monday, and if that goes well, he'll return Tuesday against the Texas Rangers. It's great news for the Yankees and fantasy managers that Judge is nearing a return so quickly after going on the 10-day injured list on July 26 with a flexor strain. Judge will initially DH when he comes back, which could push Giancarlo Stanton into the outfield for the first time since 2023. Ideally for the Yankees, the Stanton experiment will work out and they'll be able to keep his powerful bat in the lineup alongside Judge's.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) will take batting practice on the field in Miami on Friday before the series opener against the Marlins, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Judge will then travel to Tampa on Sunday to take some live at-bats. The Yankees' goal is to activate him from the 10-day injured list as a designated hitter on either Tuesday or Wednesday at Texas against the Rangers. Judge landed on the IL with a flexor strain in his right elbow but is feeling better after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection in his arm earlier this week. The 33-year-old reigning American League MVP will be eased back in as the team's DH next week, which will shift Giancarlo Stanton to the outfield for the short term. Judge wasn't swinging the bat particularly well after the All-Star break, but he should be returned to starting fantasy lineups immediately when he's back.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) landed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend. This is obviously a tough blow to the Yankees, but the organization is hopeful that it'll be a short stint on the shelf. Yankees' manager Aaron Boone said on Tuesday that Judge should ramp up his activities soon and hopefully return when first eligible on August 5. It's worth noting that Judge was able to do some light hitting on Tuesday. The biggest question will be whether or not Judge will be able to return to the outfield because of his UCL issue. Judge might be forced to play designated hitter, which would shift Giancarlo Stanton into the outfield. Nobody wants to watch Stanton try to run down balls in the outfield. Regardless, fantasy managers should at least be able to plug Judge back into their lineups in early August.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) will start hitting off a tee on Tuesday or Wednesday but will need 10 to 15 days to start throwing, manager Aaron Boone said on Talkin' Yanks. The Yankees placed Judge on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a right flexor strain in his elbow and then received a platelet-rich plasma injection. It's possible that he will come off the IL when he's eligible next Tuesday, but expect the Yankees to ease the reigning American League MVP back in the designated hitter role. It's why the Yankees have said Giancarlo Stanton could see time in the outfield when Judge is back. With Judge out, Cody Bellinger will likely see most of the playing time in right field, giving Trent Grisham more run in center field. Obviously, Judge should be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy formats. He's having another monster season with 37 homers, 85 RBI, 90 runs, six steals and .342 average.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) is going on the 10-day injured list with a right flexor strain, manager Aaron Boone told reporters. The good news is that Judge's UCL remains intact, meaning he won't require surgery. The Yankees are hopeful that the superstar won't miss a significant amount of time, but he'll have to go 10 to 14 days without throwing. Even 10 days without the reigning AL MVP is a notable blow to the Yankees, who have sputtered in recent weeks, as well as fantasy managers. Judge has slashed an eye-popping .342/.449/.711 with 37 homers, 85 RBI, 90 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 459 plate appearances. There's no realistic hope of replacing that all-world production, though the Yankees do still have three starting-caliber outfielders in Trent Grisham, Cody Bellinger, and Jasson Dominguez. Judge will initially return as a designated hitter, which should lead to decreased playing time for Giancarlo Stanton.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (elbow) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game in the Bronx against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Judge had difficulty throwing the ball during the series opener against the Phillies on Friday, so the Yankees will hold the 33-year-old reigning American League MVP out on Saturday while also sending him for imaging. Cody Bellinger is starting in right field and will bat third against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez. Fantasy managers will want to check back for the results of Judge's imaging for a clearer idea of how much time he could miss. For now, we'll consider him day-to-day, but it would obviously be a crippling blow for the Yanks and fantasy managers to lose an elite player like Judge for an extended period of time. In the lefty-lefty matchup, Bellinger has three hits in 10 career at-bats and two RBI against Suarez.