KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Yankees added a bit of humor to Mariano Rivera’s return to Kauffman Stadium Friday night.
When Rivera was shagging fly balls during batting practice, there was a chalk outline on the warning track in left-center and a sign prepared by bullpen coach Mike Harkey fastened to the fence with crime-scene tape that read, “No Mo Zone.”
Rivera’s 2012 season ended in that spot last May 3 when he tore the ACL in the right knee attempting to catch a Jayson Nix BP fly.
Equipment manager Lou Cucuzza and Harkey removed the sign from the fence and kicked dirt over the outline when Rivera left the field. The sign was in Rivera’s locker after the 11-6 win over the Royals.
* One day after saying CC Sabathia wasn’t an option to start one of the two games against the Indians on Monday on three days’ rest, Joe Girardi put the ace in play. Sabathia threw 51 pitches in four innings Thursday in Denver and did not return after a lengthy rain delay.
“I guess you can play around with CC because he only threw [51] pitches,’’ Girardi said. “That would not be what I want to do, but you never know what’s going to happen this weekend.”
Ivan Nova, currently on the DL with an inflamed right biceps, also is a candidate to pitch Monday. He pitched in an extended spring game Wednesday and would be working on regular rest.
Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno, currently in the Yankees’ bullpen, could start if they aren’t needed for extended work before then. Neither pitched last night.
* Girardi won his 500th game as the Yankees’ manager.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity,’’ said Girardi, who is in his sixth year managing the club.
* Curtis Granderson went 1-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his second minor league rehab game.
* Joba Chamberlain (strained right oblique) threw a bullpen session and is scheduled for another Sunday.
“We will see how he feels after that,’’ Girardi said of the reliever who hasn’t pitched since April 27. “Maybe talk about a rehab assignment after that. I wouldn’t imagine he would need much. If he is OK [tomorrow], I wouldn’t imagine he would need much after that.”
* Mark Teixeira has progressed to the point where he is taking batting practice on the field in Tampa.
* Robinson Cano clarified when he had an X-ray on his big right toe. Cano fouled a ball off of the toe last week at home, then aggravated it when he slipped covering first base Thursday in Denver.
Cano said Thursday he had tests that day. However, they were done last weekend. Cano said it was a misunderstanding and the toe wasn’t a problem.