Aaron Judge’s health is already a concern.
The right-back was kept out of the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Orioles with what Aaron Boone called “general pain in the [left] side”
The manager said it was not an oblique injury, and with the Yankees having a day off on Thursday, “I don’t want to risk it.”
The Yankees begin a series at Tampa Bay on Friday, and the judge suffered leg injuries because he played on the turf at Tropicana Field.
The referee did not sink for a ball in the right field in Tuesday’s victory over the Orioles and did not seem to run aggressively on the bases, although he looked good on the field, brought a second night in a row and hit the ball constantly.
Boone said he does not anticipate the judge taking any tests, although the 28-year-old expects to be treated and stretched before Wednesday’s game, with the possibility of being used late “in a big place”.
Judge has participated in the last three spring training games, two by design and a third due to allergies. He started all five previous Yankees games, including one at DH, but struggled with oblique injuries and ribs throughout his career.