DETROIT — Hiroki Kuroda’s right middle finger isn’t completely healed, and he doesn’t know if it will affect his pitching today.
“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t bothering me,’’ said Kuroda, slated to start this afternoon against the Indians in Cleveland. “At the same time, I have to deal with it.’’
Kuroda left Wednesday night’s game against the Red Sox in the second inning when he was struck by Shane Victorino’s line drive. Kuroda threw a bullpen session at Comerica Park Friday and threw off flat ground yesterday.
Asked what was bothering him, Kuroda was evasive.
“Nothing specific,” he said. “Until I get on the mound, I won’t be able to see how I feel.’’
If Kuroda needs early help, it would come from Adam Warren, a rookie right-hander who provided 5 1/3 innings of relief against the Red Sox.
* Eduardo Nunez attempted to throw yesterday and couldn’t. Unlike Saturday, the shortstop didn’t even try to swing a bat on the advice of the medical staff.
“It feels better, but I can’t throw,’’ Nunez said of his right biceps, bruised when hit by a pitch by the Tigers’ Doug Fister on Friday.
Nunez, who was replaced by Jayson Nix for a second straight game, is hoping to be back in the lineup today against the Indians, but the fact he wasn’t allowed to swing and was unable to throw are not positive signs.
He entered yesterday’s 7-0 win over the Tigers as a pinch-runner for Travis Hafner in the eighth and scored a run.
* For the first time in the young season, manager Joe Girardi started the same catcher in back-to-back games.
Francisco Cervelli, who caught CC Sabathia on Opening Day, was paired with the ace yesterday. Cervelli, who also started Saturday’s game, went 2-for-4 yesterday with a pair of RBIs.
After two consecutive ineffective outings, Girardi said Boone Logan was unavailable yesterday. The Yankees’ lone lefty reliever has been bad in three appearances, and horrific in the past two outings against the Tigers.
“He’s not in the groove we have seen him get in,’’ Girardi said of Logan, who has worked 1 1/3 innings, given up four hits, two runs (one earned), one walk and has allowed four of five inherited runners to score. “We need to get him going because he’s really important, being that one left-hander. He’s going to be asked to come into crucial situations where last year it was later in the game. His spots are going to be real important.’’
Last year Logan had lefty Clay Rapada with him in the pen. But needing a 40-man roster spot, the Yankees designated Rapada, bothered by bursitis in spring training, for assignment on March 31 and released him April 3.
Joba Chamberlain shaved off his mustache yesterday.
“It wasn’t working, it wasn’t cutting the mustard,’’ said Chamberlain, who grew the mustache in spring training but gave up four hits, four runs and four walks in 1 2/3 innings in two games that count.
* Girardi walked into the Yankees’ clubhouse looking for Brennan Boesch yesterday morning.
“There is somebody who wants to give you something,’’ Girardi said to Boesch.
The former Tiger walked with Girardi to the manager’s office and met Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, who presented Boesch with his AL championship ring from last year.
Like most players, Boesch won’t wear the ring because it doesn’t represent a World Series title.
“It’s a second-place ring, you won’t see it on me,’’ said Boesch, who did say the ring was nice.
Boesch, who wasn’t on the Tigers’ World Series roster, was cut by the club in spring training and signed with the Yankees.
The Tigers honored the retiring Mariano Rivera in a pre-game ceremony. Rivera was given a framed photograph of him pitching at Tiger Stadium and dirt from the mounds of the old park and Comerica Park.
Detroit fans might have a hard time remembering seeing Rivera flush a save, because the last time that happened against the Tigers was July 8, 1999. That’s 23 straight, second to the 27 consecutive saves Rivera has posted against the Royals.
Rivera isn’t an attention-seeking player but he should get used to this kind of treatment, since every city he will visit this year has something planned.
“I guess,’’ he said when asked if he were comfortable with the attention. “It’s going to be fine. I’m going to enjoy it. I respect everybody.’’