The New York Yankees are feeling the absence of their star slugger, Juan Soto, as they struggle to generate offense. Soto has been sidelined due to left forearm inflammation, and without him, the Yankees suffered an 11-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking their second consecutive loss.

Manager Aaron Boone expressed uncertainty about Soto's return, mentioning that Soto went through his pregame routine but did not participate in hitting. The Yankees, with the best record in the American League at 45-21, have struggled at the plate since Soto's departure in Thursday night's game against the Twins, managing just four runs in 23 innings.

Boone stated that Soto might return to action on Sunday, as the outfielder's condition seemed to be improving. Soto himself commented that a scan showed only inflammation, which provided a sense of relief. However, he remains day to day, and the team is leaning towards giving him a couple of days to recover.

In Soto's absence, center fielder Trent Grisham has taken his place in the lineup. Aaron Judge has shifted from center to right field, while left fielder Alex Verdugo has been moved up to Soto's regular No. 2 spot in the batting order. Despite missing a key player, the Yankees' lineup has struggled to produce, going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 runners stranded.

Boone emphasized that Soto is receiving treatment to address the inflammation in his forearm. While Soto understands the importance of taking the necessary time to recover, he is undoubtedly eager to return to the field. Boone reassured that Soto's absence is not due to any underlying risk but rather a focus on resolving the inflammation.

However, if Soto's progress is minimal over the next few days, the possibility of placing him on the injured list looms. Nevertheless, Boone expressed confidence that this won't be necessary, expecting Soto to return once he is ready.

Soto, who boasts impressive stats with a batting average of .318, 17 home runs, 53 RBIs, and an outstanding 1.027 OPS, remains a crucial part of the Yankees' offensive firepower. While the team navigates through his absence, they must rely on other players to step up and fill the void.

As the Yankees continue their series against the Dodgers, all eyes will be on Soto's recovery progress. The team hopes to have their slugger back in action soon, as they aim to maintain their top position in the American League standings.