Bird wants to fly back
Greg Bird had a precautionary MRI on his back on Tuesday morning that came back normal, and the 24-year-old first baseman said he feels better and hopes to play for the Yankees on Wednesday.
Bird was scratched from Monday’s lineup due to back spasms. He did not play in Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Rays at Citi field.
Bird has missed most of the last two seasons due to injury. He underwent right ankle surgery in midJuly. Bird produced homers in backto-back games Aug. 30-31, but has gone just 3-for-24 in September. Chase Headley started at first base and singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 10 straight games.
2018 SKED RELEASED
The Yankees will open the 2018 season in Toronto against the Blue Jays on March 29. Their homeopener will be on April 2 vs. Tampa. They will finish the year facing the Red Sox at Fenway Park Sept. 28-30.
The Yankees will face the Mets six times: June 8-10 at Citi Field and July 20-22 at Yankee Stadium. Derek Jeter’s Marlins face the Bombers April 16-17 in the Bronx and Aug. 21-22 in Miami. The Yankees will also have interleague NL East series in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
FRAZIER BACK
Clint Frazier, who was on the disabled list for 31 games due to an oblique injury, went 0-for-2 before being pinch-hit for by Jacoby Ellsbury in the eighth.
Frazier hit the ball well in both of his at-bats, sending a deep fly ball to right in the fifth. Ellsbury, who has been swing the bat well of late, popped up the first pitch he saw from Tommy Hunter. Ellsbury came in 7-for-20 lifetime vs. Hunter.
“It’s not what you want as a player, getting hit for,” Frazier said. “But it’s a decision Joe (Girardi) thought was best at the moment right there, so I can’t do anything but try to prove that next time I’m able to hit in that position.” ... The Yankees lead baseball with 25 one-run losses. … Aaron Judge is hitless in his past two games since homering twice on Sunday. Judge struck out three times. … Girardi said Chad Green and David Robertson, who threw multiple innings on Sunday and Monday, respectively, could be available Wednesday, though Thursday was more likely. … Didi Gregorius, who was 8-for-19 in his previous five games, pinch-hit in the seventh and grounded out to first. … Starlin Castro, who is 0 for his last 14, could get a day off soon.