Yankees AL MVP candidate expected to return from IL in middle of Rangers' series

The New York Yankees have been struggling since the calendar turned to July and it hasn't been easier over the last few weeks without the reigning AL MVP in Aaron Judge but that will change soon.

Unfortunately for the Texas Rangers, it will happen while the Yankees are in town Monday-Wednesday for a three-game series in Arlington. Judge, who has been sidelined since July 27 for a right flexor, is expected to return to the Yankees' lineup on Tuesday.

Rangers-Yankees series as a lot more on the line than anticipated

The Rangers and Yankees are sharing a lot of similarities at this point in the year. Expected to run away, or at least be at the top of their divisions all year, find themselves in third place in their respective divisions.

Luckily for Texas, their success has been more recent. Since July, the Rangers are 17-10, which has skyrocketed them back into the playoff race only 4.5 games back in the AL West and 2 games back of the third AL Wild Card spot. On the other hand, the Yankees are 12-15 since the start of July but sit in the AL's second WC spot, half a game back of Boston.

The Yankees are in a desperate search for answers in a weird season that the ups have been expected and the downs have been downright dreadful. It seems every day they are making waves around social media for lack of hustle, boneheaded errors or lazy fielding and running decisions. Judge's return to the lineup this week has Yankees' fans hoping he can help.

The Rangers are also in trouble because they have the league's fourth-toughest schedule from here until the end of the regular season. They face Milwaukee, Toronto, Philadelphia, both New York teams three times each and Houston six more times.

Whoever wins this series can very well put the either team in a deeper hole in the American League playoff race. Right now, the Yankees have the upper hand with the better record and could recover from a sweep but Texas is on the outside looking in and a series loss could dash their hopes as quickly as they got started.