MIAMI — Jonathan Loáisiga is back on the injured list.
The Yankees placed the oft-injured reliever on the 15-day IL Sunday with right mid-back tightness, which opened a roster spot for Luis Gil to be activated and make his season debut in a 7-3 loss to the Marlins at loanDepot Park.
Loáisiga last pitched Friday — his fifth appearance in a span of seven days — and afterward, he began to feel back stiffness that lingered into Saturday.
It was enough for the Yankees to send Loáisiga back to New York, where he was set to be examined by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad on Sunday.
“Felt like this is something we got to take care of,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Hopefully, it’s not something too serious, but he’s going to go back and see Dr. Ahmad today, and then we’ll get a better diagnosis and clearer picture of what it’s going to look like.”
Loáisiga has mostly struggled this season — which he started late as he came back from elbow surgery — pitching to a 4.25 ERA across 30 games and 29 ²/₃ innings.
Boone said the back issue is new, though, and is not to blame for the righty’s inconsistent outings.
Aaron Judge took live at-bats Sunday in Tampa at the Yankees player development complex as he works his way back from a right elbow flexor strain.
The plan is for him to get more live at-bats Monday before flying to Texas to be activated Tuesday, the first day he is eligible to come off the IL.
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“That’s my expectation,” Boone said.
Judge will strictly DH upon his return as he still is shut down from throwing.
Trent Grisham’s home run was his career-high 20th of the season and his fourth to lead off a game this year.
Mark Leiter Jr. (left fibular head stress fracture) came through Saturday’s rehab outing well.
The Yankees still were debating whether that was all he would need before activating him during the Rangers series.
Andrew Velazquez, who had been providing shortstop depth at Triple-A, was released from his minor league contract Sunday. … OF Bryan de la Cruz, who was designated for assignment Thursday, was outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.