BALTIMORE — David Robertson played catch Monday and will throw a bullpen session Tuesday. After that the Yankees have their fingers firmly crossed the late-inning reliever can rejoin the battered bullpen.
“I am not sure, you go day-by-day,’’ manager Joe Girardi said when asked when Robertson might be available. “He is a little ahead of where Boone [Logan] is.’’
Robertson hasn’t worked since Thursday against the Red Sox when he tossed a perfect inning and struck out two. The next day he told the trainers his right shoulder wasn’t right. An MRI exam showed tendinitis.
Girardi said the trainers would have to clear Robertson but said: “I would take him today if I could have him.’’
Robertson is hopeful to pitch Wednesday.
As for Logan, the only experienced lefty in Girardi’s pen, the manager isn’t banking on having him until Friday night in Boston.
“I am not sure we will get him for this series,’’ Girardi said of Logan, who received a cortisone shot in the left shoulder Saturday and hasn’t pitched since Friday due to a problem on the outside of the left elbow. “I am hopeful that we will, maybe the last day [Thursday] but we go day-by-day.’’
Without Logan, Girardi had Cesar Cabral, who had two big league appearances going into Monday night, and starter David Huff from the left side in the pen.
Even though Shawn Kelley worked a scoreless seventh inning Sunday and said the tenderness in the right elbow had vanished, Girardi wasn’t certain about his availability.
“I am not sure I would use him [Monday] because he threw a [bullpen] and then threw in game so it’s like he threw two games,’’ Girardi said. “I will have to talk to him and see how he feels.’’
Huff was listed with the relievers on Monday night’s lineup card but that wasn’t an indication Girardi is going to re-insert Phil Hughes into the rotation.
“We are going to use these three days and see where we are at,’’ Girardi said. Huff is slated to start against the Birds Thursday. “I am not saying that I am changing anything, no.If we need Huff, we need Huff.’’
Huff was raked for nine runs and eight hits (two homers) in 3 ¹/₃ innings Saturday by the Red Sox. He started in place of Hughes, who had one shaky relief appearance heading into Monday night’s action.
Girardi batted Alex Rodriguez second Monday night against Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman. It was the first time since Aug. 26, 2006 Rodriguez batted second.
“He has done a good job of getting on base against right-handers and we are trying to break up our left-handers,’’ Girardi said of Rodriguez. “[Alfonso Soriano] has done a good job behind Robbie [Cano].
Prior to last night Rodriguez hit second in 502 career games, hitting .320 (667-2084) with 118 homers and 391 RBIs.
Girardi used Cano third and Soriano fourth.
Going into Monday night’s game Rodriguez had a .373 on-base percentage against right-handers and .391 versus lefties.
He was batting .299 (20-for-67) against righties with four homers and 10 RBIs and a .926 OPS. Against lefties he was at .263 (10-for-38) without a homer or an RBI. His on-base percentage was .654.
While Rodriguez was hitting .286 (30-for-105) in 29 games since coming off the DL he hadn’t homered in the previous 32 at-bats. That ended in the first when he hit an opposite-field homer to right. It was his fifth of the year and career blast 652 which leaves him eight shy of tying Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time list.
Chris Stewart said his left foot that took a foul ball off and forced him out of Sunday’s game against the Red Sox felt better, but Girardi didn’t plan on having the catcher Monday night.
“Probably not,’’ Girardi said of Stewart being available for the first of four games against the Orioles.
Austin Romine started and caught CC Sabathia.
Ivan Nova attempts to rebound from a bad start Thursday against the Red Sox when he takes the mound Tuesday night.
“He can’t make too much out of it,’’ Girardi said. “Turn the page.’’
Prior to giving up three runs and five hits in four innings to the Red Sox, Nova had a string of 10 solid outings.
Switch-hitting outfielder Zoilo Almonte joined the club Monday night. He missed 45 games due to a sprained left ankle. In 26 games Almonte batted .261 (23-for-88) with one homer and nine RBIs.
Almonte struck out looking as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.