Gregorius improving, weekend return likely
BOSTON — Didi Gregorius is coming back shortly. Joe Girardi said “we will see him sometime in the next series” against the Orioles, which takes place Friday-Sunday at Yankee Stadium. Friday, Girardi said, is a possibility for the 27-year-old shortstop’s return.
Gregorius (right shoulder strain) has yet to play this season after getting hurt during the World Baseball Classic.
In four rehab games with Class-A Tampa, he’s hitting .429 including a solo homer he blasted on Tuesday night. He also play for Tampa on Wednesday night.
Gary Sanchez (Grade 1 strain of the right brachialis muscle) threw from 120 feet on Wednesday and took batting practice in the cage. “He’s doing well,” Girardi said.
Sanchez was expected to miss a month after getting hurt on April 8 in Baltimore.
Ronald Torreyes (.290, one homer, 13 RBI) and Austin Romine (.293, one homer, five RBI) have performed well in the absence of Gregorius and Sanchez.
GARDY’S SLUMP
Brett Gardner’s struggles at the plate began after he collided with the Rays’ Rickie Weeks Jr. while running to first base on April 12. Gardner suffered a bruised jaw and strained neck at the time.
Gardner is 3-for-29 with eight walks over that span (nine games).
“I’ve looked at that too,” Joe Girardi said. “It could’ve been what started the struggles for him. He hasn’t had treatment on anything for a while on that. But that could’ve definitely been it.” Gardner is hitting just .186.
“I thought he swung the bat well (Sunday) in Pittsburgh,” Girardi said, and he’s had some success against (Rick) Porcello, so hopefully tonight is the night he gets it going.”
BARNES DROPS APPEAL
Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes has dropped his appeal of his four-game suspension and will be out until Sunday’s game against the Cubs. MLB suspended Barnes for throwing a pitch near the head of Manny Machado last Sunday in Baltimore.
It came after Dustin Pedroia was upset that Machado slid into him on Friday night. The two exchanged words after Barnes’ high pitch.
Red Sox manager John Farrell said Pedroia still had some “lingering soreness” and he “didn’t want to risk him losing his footing on the wet ground.” Pedroia missed his third straight game after the Machado slide. —With AP