TORONTO — Wednesday night marked the first time this season Robinson Cano wasn’t in the Yankees lineup, but the All-Star second baseman said he is hopeful he can return for tomorrow night’s game against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
“The swelling has decreased, now we have to wait until Friday. It’s good we’re off tomorrow,” Cano said before the Yankees’ 7-2 loss to the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. “I’ll swing in the cage and see how it feels, try to get ready for batting practice. I would say during batting practice, I would know.”
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Cano was drilled on the left hand by a 90 mph fastball from lefty J.A. Happ in the first inning of Tuesday’s 7-1 Yankees victory and left the game between innings. X-rays were negative and Cano spent yesterday receiving treatment.
Manager Joe Girardi said he believed Cano would be ready by tomorrow.
“In my heart I think he’s going to be in there, but if he’s not we’re going to have to deal with it,” Girardi said.
* Eduardo Nunez originally was scheduled to replace Cano at second base, but was a late scratch because of a right knee injury suffered while moving on the artificial turf on Tuesday. Nunez will undergo an MRI exam Thursday, Girardi said.
Before batting practice, Girardi said Nunez was “50/50’’ to play and removed him from the lineup after Nunez didn’t look good during pregame warmups.
“[Nunez] couldn’t run full speed,” Girardi said. “I just said, ‘I don’t want you going out there feeling compromised if your knee is not stable, so I’m going to scratch you.’ “
Nunez described his knee as “sore” following last night’s game and admitted he was worried about his status. He hinted the injury could cost him two weeks of time but he couldn’t say for sure until the MRI exam results were known.
Instead, Mark Reynolds filled in at second base and looked solid on a few routine plays. Reynolds, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI, played two games at second in his 2007 rookie season with the Diamondbacks and hadn’t been back at the position until he replaced Nunez in the ninth inning on Tuesday.
“I felt comfortable there,” Reynolds said. “I told Joe I was ready to go if they needed me.”
* While Nunez said he caught a cleat in a seam in the turf and said “I thought I broke my knee,” others thought he got his feet tangled up, stubbed a toe or tripped on his shoelaces.
Before the game, Nunez’s teammates poked some fun at his exaggerated reaction on the field. Nunez found a wheelchair at his locker and Vernon Wells and Joba Chamberlain taped a body outline that was visible during batting practice, marking the spot where Nunez collapsed. Nunez, who believed Derek Jeter was behind the wheelchair stunt, took it in good humor and vowed pranking revenge.
* Jeter and Alex Rodriguez played their third straight games in the field on the artificial surface. Though the Yankees have an off-day today to recover, Girardi sounded as if he would have preferred to give one of his veteran infielders a break (possibly as a DH) from the turf had Cano or Nunez been healthy.
“[They’re playing] kind of out of necessity, too. We’ve got some guys hurt. I’m not sure I would’ve done it today if everyone was healthy,” Girardi said.
Jeter and Rodriguez essentially have played without backup, as Nunez was the roster’s only utility infielder.
* Girardi provided updates on several Yankees currently on the 15-day and 60-day disabled lists.
Travis Hafner and Zoilo Almonte are on light “tee and toss” workouts with the hopes of starting batting practice by the end of the week. Both have been out since late July with a strained right rotator cuff and a sprained ankle, respectively.
Almonte also dealt with a different kind of setback, Girardi said, as the outfielder recently had wisdom teeth removed.
* Michael Pineda has been throwing on the side for the Class-A Tampa Yankees as he continues his recovery from shoulder injuries. The right-hander hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2011 and still is looking to make his first appearance as a Yankee since joining the club in January 2012.
* Girardi said he wasn’t sure if right-hander David Phelps had begun throwing yet, but he is progressing.
“I think it’s pretty soon he’ll pick up a ball.” Phelps hasn’t pitched since July 4 after suffering a strained forearm, and he also strained his elbow while on a minor league rehab assignment.
* Phil Hughes is scheduled as the Yankees’ starting pitcher for Sunday’s game against the Orioles, despite the right-hander’s recent poor form and whispers the Yankees could pull him from the rotation.
Hughes has an 0-6 record over his last nine starts and a 7.16 ERA over his previous six outings. Hughes has particularly struggled at Yankee Stadium this season, posting a 1-9 record and 5.79 ERA in 14 home starts