Teixeira return still on hold

There is a chance Mark Teixeira won’t return until Friday at the earliest from a bruised left instep.

“I don’t know,’’ manager Joe Girardi said when asked if he expected the slumping first baseman would be available for the four-game series against the Orioles that ends Thursday. “I wouldn’t expect to have him [Tuesday]. He is a little better, but he is still pretty sore. It’s really day by day and it’s hard to tell.’’

Teixeira, who is in a horrific 2-for-24 (.083) slump, fouled a ball off his foot Saturday.

He remained in the game and X-rays and a CT scan were negative. He missed Sunday night’s game.

“It’s just really sore. I woke up [Sunday] and it felt better and it’s gotten better today [Monday]. I knew something was wrong last year. That’s as worse a pain as I’ve ever been in on a baseball field. There’s a big difference, so I don’t think we’re going to be in that same situation,’’ said Teixeira, who suffered a fractured right shin bone late last season. “I was in a lot of pain last year, which is why we did multiple tests back and forth, back and forth. It’s gotten better both days.”

Teixeira, who has been playing with a torn cartilage in the right knee, said the injury felt like a sprain.

“All the fluid just went right into the ankle, it’s all wrapped up now and I’ll ice it all day and just to try to get that fluid out of there,” Teixeira said.

Prior to Rodriguez unleashing a long home run in Monday night’s 2-1 win over the Orioles, Girardi said it was unlikely the DH would face all four right-handers the Birds planned to start.

“At some point I am going to have to DH Carlos [ Beltran],’’ Girardi said of the right-fielder who started the past four games in the outfield. “With another night game Carlos is okay so we will see about [Tuesday].’’