Gregorius could rejoin team for M’s series
OAKLAND, Calif. — Judging by the way Didi Gregorius looked in a midafternoon workout Wednesday at Oakland Coliseum, he should come off the disabled list on Friday when the Yankees open a three-game series against the Mariners in Seattle.
For a second straight day the shortstop went through running drills, took batting practice and fielded ground balls without a sign of any- thing bothering the bruised left heel that landed him on the DL on Aug. 20.
Prior to Tuesday’s 5-1 Yankees win over the A’s, manager Aaron Boone said if Gregorius came through Tuesday’s workout OK the shortstop’s activation could possibly happen Friday.
In the 15 games Gregorius missed entering Wednesday night’s action, the Yankees went 9-6 and used Gleyber Torres for 13 starts at short and Adeiny Hechavarria for two in Gregorius’ absence.
In 118 games, Gregorius is batting .270 with 22 homers and 74 home runs. So his bat has been missed and so too, has the Gold Glove caliber defense Gregorius provides.
Ronald Torreyes and Tyler Wade worked out at third base in the afternoon while Miguel Andujar, a regular for the early work sessions, wasn’t on the field.
Torreyes and Wade also joined Gregorius at shortstop for grounders.
➤ Luke Voit’s power show, which produced seven homers in the previous 12 games going into Wednesday night’s tilt, has made Greg Bird a spectator.
For the third straight game on Wednesday, the A’s started a right-hander and the right-handed hitting Voit got the start at first base. Bird’s most recent start at first was Aug. 29 against the White Sox when he went 1-for-3 with a double. Since then he has had one at-bat as a pinch hitter — it came on Sunday — and he flied out.
Entering Wednesday, Bird had three hits in the previous 39 at-bats (.077).
➤ J.A. Happ is 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA in his first seven starts with the Yankees, which goes along with his performance after being dealt. In 41 games (37 starts), the left-hander is 20-8 with a 3.24 ERA in his career after being traded.