Alex Rodriguez is back at third base for the Yankees tonight against the Mets after not playing the field for more than a week.
Joe Girardi had to wait until 4:30 to finalize his lineup to make sure Rodriguez felt fine after taking some grounders at third base. When Rodriguez gave the go-ahead, that put him at third and Jorge Posada at designated hitter.
Had Rodriguez been a no-go, he would have been the DH and Posada likely would have been behind the plate.
The hope is that Rodriguez and Posada will be healthy enough to return to their everyday spots in the lineup next week when the Yankees lose the DH in National League ballparks.
“We’ve had to move people around,” Girardi said. “We’ve had to move [Nick Swisher] around in Jorge’s absence whether he’s been second, sixth or fifth without the switch hitter. [Robinson Cano] has been moved up. Our lineup has not been consistent because of the injuries. Hopefully this is the end of them and we’ll be able to get through this.”
The last time Posada, Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson were in their normal position in the field was May 1. That was the day Granderson strained his left groin. Since then, Posada went to the disabled list with a broken right foot and Rodriguez has been sidelined with tendinitis in his right hip flexor.
Granderson returned to the lineup May 28, but sat out against Mets left-handed starter Hisanori Takahashi.
It is Rodriguez’s first start at third since June 10 in Baltimore.
“I think he’s OK,” Girardi said on WFAN. “The intensity is turned up. You’re not gonna be totally comfortable. There’s a difference between taking groundballs in batting practice and playing in a game.”
Posada has been primarily a DH since coming off the DL on June 2. He caught two games this week, but the foot began to feel sore late in both games. Posada could catch Saturday, but Girardi won’t use him on back-to-back days until the pain is completely gone.
“Still feeling it in the eighth and ninth inning is more of a concern,” Girardi said. “Not being able to go back-to-back days we can deal with that. If he doesn’t start the second game you still have Cerelli to play the next day. The fact that you might have to pull him in the middle of a game, that’s a concern.”
Tonight’s lineup:
Jeter SS
Swisher RF
Teixeira 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Posada DH
Cervelli C
Huffman LF
Gardner CF
Javier Vazquez is the starting pitcher.