There couldn’t be a worse time for the Yankees to spiral. Having dropped six of their last ten games, they now find themselves playing third fiddle in the AL East behind the Blue Jays and the surging Red Sox. Momentum has stalled, morale is shaky, and to make matters worse, their captain and power anchor, Aaron Judge, has been sidelined with a nagging elbow injury.

Yes, Judge did return to the lineup Tuesday night, slotted in as the designated hitter after a 10-day stint on the injured list with a flexor tendon strain in his right elbow. But even his presence couldn’t spark the offense as the Yankees were blanked 0-2 by the Rangers. That’s another reminder that this team is far from where it needs to be.

Still, amid this chaos, a sliver of hope has emerged. The Yankees have revealed a timeline for Judge’s full return to outfield duties. And with that, fans and teammates alike cling to the possibility that brighter days might not be too far off.

“Judge is expected to take on his defensive role in the outfield this weekend, aiming for a successful return during the series finale against the Houston Astros on Sunday.” Bolavip quoted MLB insider Jon Morosi.

Well, in his first game back from the 10-day IL on Tuesday, Judge went 0-for-3 with two SOs. It was his first time in action since getting hurt on July 22 in Toronto. Now, there was no set timeline for when he might return to playing the outfield. But the latest update from Morosi clarified when we will witness Judge again on the outfield.

Reportedly, since coming back, he’s been used as the DH, especially with Giancarlo Stanton out of the lineup. And somewhat the same as Mororsi’s view was shared by the Yankees manager, Aaron Boone. He mentioned earlier this week that Stanton might get some outfield reps during this weekend’s series against the Astros in The Bronx. This means Aaron Judge will stick to DH duties for a little while longer. At least till the series finale, against the Astros.

So, yes, Aaron Judge’s return to the outfield might be the best moment currently for the Yankees. Why?

Aaron Judge is known for his reliable presence in the outfield for the Yankees this season. If you check this season, his defense has quietly been a key part of the team’s overall performance. Reportedly, Judge has logged 80 games in the outfield so far, handling 167 defensive chances with 165 putouts. Numbers that speak to his consistency and dependability.

Hence, he may not be in the Gold Glove conversation. But his presence out there has certainly helped keep things from unraveling defensively.

How Aaron Judge’s return will impact the Yankees’ lineup

Well, Judge’s return from the injured list has brought a bit of a roster shuffle for the Yankees, especially when it comes to how they manage the DH spot. With Judge back in the lineup but not yet cleared to play the outfield, he’s playing as the DH for now. That directly impacts Stanton and Ben Rice, both of whom had been rotating through that role.

If you remember, before Judge came back, Rice was seeing consistent at-bats as the primary DH. It gave the rookie a valuable opportunity to settle into big-league pitching. And then Stanton returned from injury and started seeing time at DH as well, pushing Rice into more of a part-time role. Now, with Judge back and currently limited to hitting-only duties, the DH role has become even more crowded.

Eventually, once Judge is fully cleared to return to the outfield, it should free up the DH spot again. And that’s where Stanton figures to benefit the most. For the unversed, the Yankees have long preferred to keep Stanton out of the field as much as possible due to his injury history. So, putting him back in the DH slot would allow him to stay in the lineup without risking further setbacks.

For Rice, though, Judge’s return likely means fewer opportunities unless injuries or lineup shifts open the door again. It’s a bit of a juggling act for manager Aaron Boone. He has to balance getting Judge’s bat in the lineup, keeping Stanton healthy, and continuing to develop younger talent like Rice. All while trying to stay competitive during a tough stretch of the season.

Let’s now see if Judge’s full-fledged return would do any help to the Yankees, or things stay challenging for them.