PITTSBURGH (AP) -New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui remained out of the lineup – and the batting cage – with a sore left knee Thursday and will be re-examined Friday by team doctors.
If he is cleared to play, Matsui could be the designated hitter for the first of the Yankees’ two games Friday against the Mets. If the doctors don’t like what they see, Matsui might be headed to the disabled list.
“It’s always a possibility,” manager Joe Girardi said. “You don’t want it to come to that, but if we feel it’s in the best interests of him and the ballclub, that’s something we’ll talk about.”
Matsui was sidelined for a fourth consecutive game Thursday and, with no day off until July 7, the Yankees may not be able to keep a roster spot open indefinitely. Matsui had right knee surgery during the offseason, but it’s his left knee that is hurting.
Girardi didn’t like what he saw of Matsui in the batting cage earlier this week and shut him down. Matsui did nothing but receive treatment Thursday.
“He wasn’t putting the ball in the air, so we felt rest was better than anything else,” Girardi said. “The concern is (if he hits in a game), being able to push off his back leg and then being able to run.”
Johnny Damon returned to start in left field against the Pirates after being held out of the first two games of the series with a sore left arch.
“He came into my office and said, ‘I’m ready to go,”’ Girardi said. “We’ll watch him carefully.”
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