LeMahieu says groin
BOSTON — DJ LeMahieu was out early taking groundballs at third base before Sunday night’s series finale against the Red Sox at Fenway. The infielder said the tightness in his groin was “much better,” adding that he was available if the Yankees needed him and how he “hopes,” to be back in the lineup Tuesday.
“He can be more of an emergency option. We’re optimistic we can avoid an (injury list) situation with this,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ll just keep evaluating every 24 hours, but we feel good about where he’s at today.”
LeMahieu was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game Sunday after feeling tightness in the left side of his groin during Friday night’s game. An MRI revealed he had a “small” strain.
But LeMahieu was fairly confident that this will be a short-term issue and that he will be back in the lineup when the Yankees begin a two-game series with the Diamondbacks in the Bronx Tuesday night. He said that even if he were to get into the game Sunday night, he’d play without concern.
“I don’t think I would play guarded,” LeMahieu said. “I feel a lot better.”
LeMahieu was the MVP of the Yankees early season, when they were plagued by injuries.
The shortstop, who the Yankees signed this winter to be a super-utility infielder, was the steadiest bat in a constantly changing lineup and helped power them into the lead in the American League East.
LeMahieu is hitting .332/.517/.898 with 71 RBI and 15 home runs, playing in 95 of the Yankees 103 games this season. He leads the American League in batting average and is third in the majors. He is hitting a major-league leading .425 with runners in scoring position and is hitting an incredible .725 with 21 RBI with the bases loaded this season.
CLARIFICATION
Boone said that he misspoke on Saturday when he said he would expect Dellin Betances to get on a mound next week. The set-up man, who has not thrown a pitch in a game this season, is