NEW YORK _ The Yankees team that squares off with the Red Sox for four games beginning Friday will be closer to full strength than the one that played them in Boston last weekend. Infielder DJ LeMahieu, who missed the final two games at Fenway Park with a groin issue, and outfielder Brett Gardner, who has been on the IL with left knee inflammation, should be players for the Yanks.
LeMahieu and Gardner ran on the field Tuesday and took full early batting practices before the Yankees faced Arizona at Yankee Stadium.
LeMahieu lobbied Aaron Boone hard to start Tuesday night, but the Yankees manager wouldn't bite. Boone thought there was no need to rush him back and called holding him out "just trying to be smart with it as best we can," but he was clearly happy no IL stint was needed. "We'll see where we're at tomorrow if I want to put him back in there," Boone said though he might not play him Wednesday and get him a full week off.
Gardner was first scratched from the lineup on June 21 after feeling discomfort. The Yankees hoped he'd miss just a game or two but moved him to the IL last Thursday. He also had a cortisone injection which he said "really helped me."
Gardner was envisioned as the club's fourth outfielder for this season behind a starting group of Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton but started 84 games because of injuries. Asked if the break might have been a good thing to keep him fresh down the stretch, the 35-year old replied "I'm too hard-headed to think that way."
Boone said of Gardner "I do believe he'll be an option for us this weekend."
