Juan Soto (forearm) back in Yankees lineup at DH after missing Dodgers series

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Juan Soto was back in the New York Yankees' lineup as the designated hitter against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night after missing a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of left forearm inflammation.

Aaron Judge, who started the Yankees' first 67 games, was given a night off from the starting lineup.

Soto was in the No. 2 slot and Anthony Rizzo was left out of the lineup for the second straight game.

Soto is batting .318 with 17 home runs, 53 RBIs and a 1.027 OPS. The 25-year-old outfielder, acquired in December from San Diego, can become a free agent after the World Series.

A scan Friday did not reveal any problems with his elbow, the Yankees said.

Judge, the Yankees captain, is batting .305 with a major league-leading 24 homers, 59 RBIs and a big league-leading 1.139 OPS.

Rizzo, in a 1-for-29 slide this month, is hitting .224 with seven homers and 25 RBIs.

Reporting by The Associated Press.