CHICAGO — The slumping New York Yankees have activated outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury from the disabled list and put him back in the starting lineup. But the Yankees later lost second baseman Starlin Castro to a strained right hamstring.

Ellsbury played centre field and batted sixth against the Chicago White Sox on Monday night. He has been out since May 24 with a concussion, and played two rehab game in Triple-A over the weekend.

Castro returned to the lineup after getting a shot in his wrist Saturday. But he had trouble getting down the line after grounding out in the third inning, and left the game.

The Yankees have lost 10 of 12. They began the day in a virtual tie with Boston for the AL East lead.

New York put outfielder Aaron Hicks on the DL with a strained right oblique. He injured his ribcage during a check swing Sunday and is expected to miss three to four weeks.

Hicks is hitting .290 with a .398 on-base percentage. He has 10 home runs and 37 RBIs.

The Yankees also recalled infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder and right-handed pitcher Ronald Herrera from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. On Sunday, New York optioned left-hander Tyler Webb and outfielder Mason Williams to the farm club.