With the AL East virtually locked up and playoff baseball approaching, the Yankees (92-49) are getting healthier.
A pair of slugging first basemen, Luke Voit and Edwin Encarnacion, rejoined the team in recent days, and third baseman Gio Urshela is expected to back in the lineup this weekend against the Red Sox after a stint on the injured list with a groin injury.
“Gio’s good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday (via Yankees.com). “He did some baserunning stuff today, so I would expect him — I think Sunday he’s eligible [to be activated off the IL] — my hope is that he’s playing for us that day.”
Below is a rundown of other Yankees injury updates from Wednesday.
Giancarlo Stanton (knee)
A PCL strain has kept Stanton out of the Yankees’ lineup since late June. Before that, a strained biceps, calf and shoulder crippled his availability. The 29-year-old has played just nine games with New York this season.
However, a return to pinstripes may be in sight as Boone said Stanton is headed to the Yankees’ facility in Tampa, Fla., to get more live at-bats.
From there, Boone said Stanton could appear in a rehab game or two with either Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton depending on how far those clubs go in their respective playoffs.
Luis Severino (shoulder, lat strain)
Severino was expected to be the Yankees’ ace heading into 2019, but right shoulder inflammation has forced him to miss the entire season.
Severino, 25, made his first rehab start Sept. 1 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (one inning pitched, two strikeouts, two earned runs on 33 pitches) and is scheduled for a second start Sept. 6 for Double-A Trenton.
He is expected back with the Yankees this month.
Dellin Betances (lat strain)
Betances threw live batting practice to Tyler Wade and Stanton at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 3 and is scheduled to appear alongside Severino in Trenton on Sept. 6.
Like Severino, a lat strain has kept Betances from making an appearance in 2019. He is also expected back in pinstripes this month.
Miguel Andujar (shoulder)
Andujar underwent season-ending surgery on a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder in May. He said Wednesday he’ll return to baseball activities Monday.
“[It’s] much better, stronger now,” Andujar said through a translator. “It just definitely feels better than it felt before, and [I’m] very happy to show that progression. It’s been difficult, but at the same time, you’ve got to keep a positive mind.”