(Photo credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)

The New York Yankees are monitoring the status of designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton as they prepare to begin a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday in Arlington, Texas.

Stanton has missed the last two games with right calf tightness, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the team will decide before Monday's contest if a trip to the injured list is needed.

'I know (Saturday) he felt like it improved,' Boone said. 'I think he also feels like he got in front of it a little bit, so we'll see how it unfolds.'

The Yankees had their eight-game win streak snapped in a 7-4 road loss to the Houston Astros on Sunday, while Texas dropped two of three to the visiting Athletics over the weekend.

New York slugger Aaron Judge celebrated his 34th birthday on Sunday with a solo blast for his 10th homer of the season.

The Yankees later optioned starting pitcher Luis Gil to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after he allowed six runs over four-plus innings in the loss. Gil was the AL Rookie of the Year in 2024, when he posted a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts.

Left-hander Max Fried (3-1, 2.40 ERA) will take the mound for the Yankees in the series opener. He allowed three hits over eight scoreless innings in a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox last Wednesday.

Fried, 32, struck out nine and walked two while throwing 100 pitches.

'I definitely felt more like myself,' Fried said. 'I worked really well with (catcher) Austin (Wells). He made some really great calls and some good stops. And then some really good defense as well, being able to pick me up and know that I can just be on the attack.'

Brandon Nimmo is 3-for-30 (.100) and Corey Seager is 3-for-21 (.143) against Fried, who is making his second career start versus Texas. He allowed four runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Rangers on Aug. 4, 2025.

Texas will counter with right-hander Jack Leiter (1-1, 4.97), who allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings in a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Wednesday.

'I thought Jack, the way he was throwing the baseball, was going to go seven innings, one-run type of thing,' Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. 'That's the way he was cruising with the low pitch count, fastball was playing at the top. Then the fifth inning happened, and it got out of hand a little bit there.'

Leiter, 26, is 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees.

The Rangers have received a spark from third baseman Josh Jung, who doubled twice on Sunday and is hitting .378 (28-for-74) with four homers, 12 runs and 14 RBIs over his last 21 games.

'I'm trying to ride the wave as long as I can,' Jung said. 'I think it's just my daily discipline to be as consistent as possible and try to get my performance to be consistent.'

Jung was moved into the cleanup spot for the second time this season on Sunday, while center fielder Evan Carter hit fifth. After batting cleanup for most of the season, first baseman Jake Burger hit sixth on Sunday.

--Field Level Media