BALTIMORE — For the next day or two, Mariano Rivera might not be available, because the all-world closer is suffering from a sore left groin.
Rivera didn’t pitch during last night’s 10-2 victory over the Orioles, though he said he wasn’t expected to pitch anyway, because he had pitched the previous two days. Rivera downplayed the soreness, calling it “nothing to worry about.”
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But the Yankees are fortunate to be playing with a 7½-game lead over the Red Sox in the AL East, because they wouldn’t want to be playing critical games without him.
“There’s just soreness in the groin,” Rivera said. “But just taking precautions. But I’m OK.”
Rivera said he felt the soreness in Seattle when the Yankees were there for a four-game series from Aug. 13-16. He pitched on Aug. 15, and manager Joe Girardi said that after a couple of days of rest, the soreness abated. But Rivera felt sore again when pitching Tuesday night against Baltimore.
“If it’s not out of there, we don’t want to hurt him,” Girardi said. “I would like to give him a few days.”
Rivera said he expects to be able to pitch this weekend against the Blue Jays/
“Yeah, definitely. I would say so,” he said.When he initially suffered the soreness on Aug. 15, he didn’t pitch again until Aug. 19. But he wasn’t needed because there were no save situations. The Yankees lost on Aug. 16-17 and on Aug. 18, they won 7-2.
Rivera said he has not undergone any tests, hopes to be back “as soon as possible” and expects to be day to day.
While Rivera is out, Girardi said he would either have Phil Hughes close or have match multiple relievers up.
Rivera, who turns 40 in November, has appeared in 55 games this season, which puts him on track to finish with 66. That would be two more games than last year, though it’s possible the Yankees could rest Rivera down the stretch if they maintain their first-place lead.